Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Columbia, MD
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 20 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 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Rent averages $244/mo less ($1,651 vs $1,895)
Homes cost $49k less ($409,700 vs $458,700)
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $45,852/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 4.0%)
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $45,852 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Home Value
$49k less
$409,700 vs $458,700
Columbia
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$45,852
$124,537 vs $78,685/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Columbia, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,895⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $124,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 63.6% ✓ 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 | Howard County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 42.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 49.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 28.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 106,600 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Columbia's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 20 categories. Aurora wins 8 and Columbia wins 12. 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 Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $458,700 median home), income ($78,685 vs $124,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Columbia, MD are about 1,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.