Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($409,700 vs $616,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,651 vs $1,815)
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carson by $24,360/yr
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Carson, CA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $24,360 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$206k less
$409,700 vs $616,000
Aurora
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Income
$24,360
$103,045 vs $78,685/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
56% lower
420.0 vs 947.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,815⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 29.6% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 82.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Carson 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 Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $616,000 median home), income ($78,685 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Carson, CA are about 850 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.