Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 22 categories
Aurora
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,359 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°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 20% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($158,700 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($955 vs $1,651)
84% less violent crime than Aurora
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $22,359/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$22,359
$78,685 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
84% lower
150.0 vs 947.8 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$251k less
$158,700 vs $409,700
McAllen
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 7 and McAllen wins 15. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $158,700 median home), income ($78,685 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and McAllen, TX are about 1,003 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.