Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,938 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°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 13% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($112,200 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $697/mo less ($954 vs $1,651)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $27,938/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$27,938
$78,685 vs $50,747/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
30% lower
947.8 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$298k less
$112,200 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 16 and Lansing wins 7. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $112,200 median home), income ($78,685 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Lansing, MI are about 1,066 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.