Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $567k less ($409,700 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $667/mo less ($1,651 vs $2,318)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $36,062/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
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $36,062 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Aurora
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
$567k less
$409,700 vs $976,800
Aurora
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$36,062
$114,747 vs $78,685/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
78% lower
207.3 vs 947.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Huntington Beach, 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 | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 9 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $976,800 median home), income ($78,685 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Huntington Beach, CA are about 844 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.