Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Denver leads 11 of 21 categories
Aurora
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
387,349
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($409,700 vs $540,400)
5% less violent crime than Denver
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 unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Denver by $7,168/yr
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,168 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Violent Crime
5% lower
947.8 vs 993.0 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$131k less
$409,700 vs $540,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Denver
Median Income
$7,168
$85,853 vs $78,685/yr
Denver
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Denver leads 11 of 21 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Denver 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $540,400 median home), income ($78,685 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Denver, CO are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.