Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories
Aurora
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $21,148 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($215,500 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,651)
4% less violent crime than Aurora
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $21,148/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$21,148
$78,685 vs $57,537/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
4% lower
908.7 vs 947.8 per 100k
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$194k less
$215,500 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($78,685 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,562 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.