Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Aurora
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $588k less ($409,700 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $977/mo less ($1,651 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $42,854/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 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $42,854 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Aurora
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$588k less
$409,700 vs $997,600
Aurora
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 84.7°F
Cambridge
Median Income
$42,854
$121,539 vs $78,685/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
54% lower
436.7 vs 947.8 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 117,962 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Aurora wins 11 and Cambridge wins 11. 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 Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $997,600 median home), income ($78,685 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Cambridge, MA are about 1,749 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.