Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Charlotte, NC
🏆 Charlotte leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Charlotte
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
64% less violent crime than Charlotte
Homes cost $71k less ($241,600 vs $312,800)
Households earn $11,873 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Median income trails Aurora by $11,873/yr
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$11,873
$85,943 vs $74,070/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
64% lower
266.0 vs 733.2 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$71k less
$241,600 vs $312,800
Charlotte
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Charlotte
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Charlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $312,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $74,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 43.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 3.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 875,045 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Charlotte's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Charlotte 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 Charlotte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $312,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $74,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Charlotte, NC are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.