Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Indio, 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 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($241,600 vs $373,200)
21% less violent crime than Indio
Households earn $17,507 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Indio, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $118/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,462)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Median income trails Aurora by $17,507/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$17,507
$85,943 vs $68,436/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
21% lower
266.0 vs 336.2 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$132k less
$241,600 vs $373,200
Aurora
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Summer Heat
21.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Indio, 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 | $373,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 69.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 14 and Indio 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $373,200 median home), income ($85,943 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Indio, CA are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.