Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Fresno leads 12 of 22 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
Fresno
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $15,684 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,651)
22% less violent crime than Aurora
Homes cost $88k less ($321,800 vs $409,700)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $15,684/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$15,684
$78,685 vs $63,001/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Violent Crime
22% lower
735.5 vs 947.8 per 100k
Fresno
Median Home Value
$88k less
$321,800 vs $409,700
Fresno
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fresno leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Fresno 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $321,800 median home), income ($78,685 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Fresno, CA are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.