Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Corona, 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
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Corona
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($241,600 vs $624,200)
Rent averages $558/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,020)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Corona
Cons
Median income trails Corona by $17,784/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Corona, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,784 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,200
Higher rents — median is $2,020/mo
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$383k less
$241,600 vs $624,200
Corona
Median Income
$17,784
$103,727 vs $85,943/yr
Corona
Violent Crime
6% lower
249.4 vs 266.0 per 100k
Corona
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Corona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $624,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,020⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $103,727 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 30.5% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Corona-Norco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 11.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 158,346 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 63.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Corona's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 13 and Corona 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 Corona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $624,200 median home), income ($85,943 vs $103,727), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Corona, CA are about 1,679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.