Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Edinburg, TX
🏆 Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Edinburg
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $31,804 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Edinburg
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Rent averages $542/mo less ($920 vs $1,462)
Homes cost $82k less ($159,600 vs $241,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 31°F
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $31,804/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$31,804
$85,943 vs $54,139/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Edinburg
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$82k less
$159,600 vs $241,600
Edinburg
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Edinburg, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $159,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $920 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $54,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 79.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | EDINBURG CISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 26.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 100,964 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 29.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Edinburg's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 14 and Edinburg 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 Edinburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $159,600 median home), income ($85,943 vs $54,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Edinburg, TX are about 1,205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.