Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 19 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349
Virginia Beach
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $8,859/yr
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
90% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $66k less ($343,700 vs $409,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,859 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$8,859
$87,544 vs $78,685/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
90% lower
92.3 vs 947.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$66k less
$343,700 vs $409,700
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 19 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 4 and Virginia Beach wins 19. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($78,685 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.