Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($241,600 vs $494,100)
66% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,665)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,157 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$3,157
$85,943 vs $82,786/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
66% lower
266.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$253k less
$241,600 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Lakewood wins 10. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $494,100 median home), income ($85,943 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Lakewood, CO are about 891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.