Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories
Aurora
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $616k less ($409,700 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1098/mo less ($1,651 vs $2,749)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $44,263/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
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
91% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $44,263 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/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
$616k less
$409,700 vs $1,025,700
Aurora
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$44,263
$122,948 vs $78,685/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
91% lower
84.0 vs 947.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 304,527 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($78,685 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Irvine, CA are about 833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.