Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 22 categories
Aurora
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($409,700 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,651 vs $2,353)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $69,542/yr
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 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $69,542 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Aurora
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Home Value
$228k less
$409,700 vs $637,400
Aurora
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 87.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$69,542
$148,227 vs $78,685/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
85% lower
138.1 vs 947.8 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Highlands Ranch, 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 | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 8 and Highlands Ranch wins 14. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $637,400 median home), income ($78,685 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.