Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 18 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349
Tampa
Florida
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $11,883 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
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tampa, FL
Pros
53% less violent crime than Aurora
Homes cost $77k less ($333,200 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,651)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $11,883/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$11,883
$78,685 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
53% lower
444.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$77k less
$333,200 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 18 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 5 and Tampa wins 18. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($78,685 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Tampa, FL are about 1,506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.