Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Austin, TX
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($241,600 vs $461,500)
43% less violent crime than Austin
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,549)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Austin
Austin, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Violent Crime
43% lower
266.0 vs 466.9 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$220k less
$241,600 vs $461,500
Austin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$613
$86,556 vs $85,943/yr
Austin
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $461,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,549⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $86,556 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 22.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | AUSTIN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 958,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Austin's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 9 and Austin wins 14. 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 Austin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $461,500 median home), income ($85,943 vs $86,556), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Austin, TX are about 951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.