Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,565 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($133,800 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $607/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,651)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $22,565/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$22,565
$78,685 vs $56,120/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
9% lower
947.8 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$276k less
$133,800 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 155,438 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 15 and Kansas City wins 8. 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $133,800 median home), income ($78,685 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Kansas City, KS are about 534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.