Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 14 of 22 categories
Aurora
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349
Colorado Springs
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
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 rents — median is $1,651/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
24% less violent crime than Aurora
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,651)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Homes cost $27k less ($383,000 vs $409,700)
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 86.5°F
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
24% lower
715.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$27k less
$383,000 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $79,026 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 41.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 19.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 479,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 8 and Colorado Springs wins 14. 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 Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $383,000 median home), income ($78,685 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Colorado Springs, CO are about 58 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.