Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
68% less violent crime than Lancaster
Homes cost $127k less ($241,600 vs $368,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $14,576 more per year on average
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $14,576/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$14,576
$85,943 vs $71,367/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
68% lower
266.0 vs 834.7 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$127k less
$241,600 vs $368,800
Aurora
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 16 and Lancaster wins 7. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $368,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Lancaster, CA are about 1,684 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.