Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,162 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 15% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($162,000 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($917 vs $1,651)
35% less violent crime than Aurora
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $27,162/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$27,162
$78,685 vs $51,523/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
35% lower
620.4 vs 947.8 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$248k less
$162,000 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 11 and Roanoke wins 12. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $162,000 median home), income ($78,685 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Roanoke, VA are about 1,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.