Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Hartford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $44,102 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Hartford
Hartford, CT
Pros
Rent averages $308/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,462)
Homes cost $43k less ($198,900 vs $241,600)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $44,102/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$44,102
$85,943 vs $41,841/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
48% lower
266.0 vs 515.8 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Hartford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$43k less
$198,900 vs $241,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,154 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 121,057 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 15 and Hartford wins 8. 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 Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $198,900 median home), income ($85,943 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Hartford, CT are about 803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.