Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ 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 Fresno
Households earn $22,942 more per year on average
Homes cost $80k less ($241,600 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $22,942/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$22,942
$85,943 vs $63,001/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
64% lower
266.0 vs 735.5 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$80k less
$241,600 vs $321,800
Aurora
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ 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 | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 14 and Fresno 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $321,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Fresno, CA are about 1,710 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.