Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,234 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($162,800 vs $409,700)
66% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,651)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $27,234/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.5%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$27,234
$78,685 vs $51,451/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.8% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
66% lower
322.5 vs 947.8 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$247k less
$162,800 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Waterbury wins 11. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($78,685 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Waterbury, CT are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.