Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Buckeye, AZ
🏆 Buckeye leads 17 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Buckeye
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Median income trails Buckeye by $15,503/yr
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
82% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $68k less ($341,700 vs $409,700)
Households earn $15,503 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$15,503
$94,188 vs $78,685/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
82% lower
166.8 vs 947.8 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$68k less
$341,700 vs $409,700
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Buckeye, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $94,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 95,042 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Buckeye's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 17 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 6 and Buckeye wins 17. 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 Aurora to Buckeye or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $341,700 median home), income ($78,685 vs $94,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Buckeye, AZ are about 617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.