Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($409,700 vs $705,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,651 vs $1,817)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Washington by $23,037/yr
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $23,037 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$295k less
$409,700 vs $705,000
Aurora
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$23,037
$101,722 vs $78,685/yr
Washington
Violent Crime
2% lower
925.9 vs 947.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 244⚠ 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) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 13 and Washington wins 10. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $705,000 median home), income ($78,685 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Washington, DC are about 1,476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.