Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,230 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Columbia
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $654/mo less ($997 vs $1,651)
Homes cost $161k less ($248,600 vs $409,700)
63% less violent crime than Aurora
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $18,230/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$18,230
$78,685 vs $60,455/yr
Columbia
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Violent Crime
63% lower
347.5 vs 947.8 per 100k
Columbia
Median Home Value
$161k less
$248,600 vs $409,700
Columbia
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $248,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $60,455 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 44.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 17.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 126,172 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Columbia wins 13. 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 $248,600 median home), income ($78,685 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Columbia, MO are about 664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.