Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories
Aurora
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($409,700 vs $494,100)
Cons
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 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Lakewood, CO
Pros
17% less violent crime than Aurora
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,101 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Home Value
$84k less
$409,700 vs $494,100
Aurora
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 85.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Lakewood
Median Income
$4,101
$82,786 vs $78,685/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
17% lower
787.2 vs 947.8 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Lakewood, 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 | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Lakewood wins 10. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $494,100 median home), income ($78,685 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Lakewood, CO are about 21 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.