Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($241,600 vs $616,000)
37% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.6%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $17,102/yr
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,102 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Violent Crime
37% lower
266.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$374k less
$241,600 vs $616,000
Aurora
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Income
$17,102
$103,045 vs $85,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,815⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 29.6% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 82.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 14 and Carson wins 9. 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 Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $616,000 median home), income ($85,943 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Carson, CA are about 1,715 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.