Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($409,700 vs $578,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,497 more per year on average
10% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
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
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
South Gate, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $251/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,651)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Aurora by $11,497/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$11,497
$78,685 vs $67,188/yr
Aurora
Median Home Value
$169k less
$409,700 vs $578,900
Aurora
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Violent Crime
45% lower
525.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 16 and South Gate wins 7. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $578,900 median home), income ($78,685 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and South Gate, CA are about 843 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.