Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($409,700 vs $679,000)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Rent averages $163/mo less ($1,651 vs $1,814)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails Downey by $5,551/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Downey, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Aurora
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Households earn $5,551 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$269k less
$409,700 vs $679,000
Aurora
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 81.4°F
Downey
Median Income
$5,551
$84,236 vs $78,685/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
51% lower
460.5 vs 947.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $84,236 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 14 and Downey wins 9. 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $679,000 median home), income ($78,685 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Downey, CA are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.