Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Denton leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Denton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $6,764 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Denton, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than Aurora
Homes cost $114k less ($296,100 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,651)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $6,764/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$6,764
$78,685 vs $71,921/yr
Denton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
78% lower
204.2 vs 947.8 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$114k less
$296,100 vs $409,700
Denton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Denton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,264 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $71,921 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 38.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 142,262 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Denton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 7 and Denton wins 16. 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $296,100 median home), income ($78,685 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Denton, TX are about 615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.