Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
387,349
Houston
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
17% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $18,245 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
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
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($235,000 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $416/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,651)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $18,245/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$18,245
$78,685 vs $60,440/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
17% lower
947.8 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$175k less
$235,000 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Houston 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $235,000 median home), income ($78,685 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Houston, TX are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.