Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Colorado Springs
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($241,600 vs $383,000)
63% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Households earn $6,917 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Aurora by $6,917/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$6,917
$85,943 vs $79,026/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
63% lower
266.0 vs 715.6 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$141k less
$241,600 vs $383,000
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $383,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,464⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $79,026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 41.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 19.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 479,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $383,000 median home), income ($85,943 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Colorado Springs, CO are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.