Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $1099k less ($409,700 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1320/mo less ($1,651 vs $2,971)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $70,467/yr
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,467 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Aurora
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$1099k less
$409,700 vs $1,508,900
Aurora
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$70,467
$149,152 vs $78,685/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
74% lower
243.2 vs 947.8 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 9 and San Mateo wins 14. 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($78,685 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and San Mateo, CA are about 959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.