Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Boca Raton, FL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Boca Raton
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $356k less ($241,600 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $708/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,170)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $9,627/yr
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
36% less violent crime than Aurora
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 31°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,627 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$356k less
$241,600 vs $597,100
Boca Raton
Median Income
$9,627
$95,570 vs $85,943/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
36% lower
171.0 vs 266.0 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Boca Raton, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $597,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,170⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $95,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 18.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 96.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 65.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 97,980 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 47.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 65.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 25.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Boca Raton's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Boca Raton wins 13. 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 Boca Raton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $597,100 median home), income ($85,943 vs $95,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Boca Raton, FL are about 1,161 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.