Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405
Grand Prairie
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,626
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $9,317 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
17% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $81/mo less ($1,381 vs $1,462)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $9,317/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$9,317
$85,943 vs $76,626/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
17% lower
221.2 vs 266.0 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Grand Prairie, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $242,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,381⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $76,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 28.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 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 | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 81.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 197,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 59.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Grand Prairie wins 11. 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 Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $242,900 median home), income ($85,943 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Grand Prairie, TX are about 789 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.