Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Aurora, CO
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Aurora
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
70% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $27,329 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($409,700 vs $553,000)
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $27,329/yr
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$27,329
$106,014 vs $78,685/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
70% lower
285.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Aurora
Median Home Value
$143k less
$409,700 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Aurora, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $78,685 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 249⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 17.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 387,349 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 62.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Aurora's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 13 and Aurora wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to Aurora or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $409,700 median home), income ($106,014 vs $78,685), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Aurora, CO are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.