Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($409,700 vs $462,100)
Households earn $5,612 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Reno, NV
Pros
44% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,651)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Median income trails Aurora by $5,612/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$5,612
$78,685 vs $73,073/yr
Aurora
Median Home Value
$52k less
$409,700 vs $462,100
Reno
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Violent Crime
44% lower
529.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 8 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $462,100 median home), income ($78,685 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Reno, NV are about 804 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.