Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Berkeley, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1039k less ($241,600 vs $1,280,300)
58% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,067)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $18,773/yr
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $18,773 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Violent Crime
58% lower
266.0 vs 638.8 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$1039k less
$241,600 vs $1,280,300
Aurora
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 74.2°F
Berkeley
Median Income
$18,773
$104,716 vs $85,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Berkeley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $1,280,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,067⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $104,716 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 200⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 249⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Berkeley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 26.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 121,385 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Berkeley's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 13 and Berkeley 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 Berkeley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $1,280,300 median home), income ($85,943 vs $104,716), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Berkeley, CA are about 1,813 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.