Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,833 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°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 Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($96,900 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $709/mo less ($942 vs $1,651)
64% less violent crime than Aurora
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $35,833/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$35,833
$78,685 vs $42,852/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 11.3% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
64% lower
337.2 vs 947.8 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$313k less
$96,900 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 13 and Reading 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $96,900 median home), income ($78,685 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Reading, PA are about 1,517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.