Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $37,046 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($155,200 vs $241,600)
Rent averages $495/mo less ($967 vs $1,462)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $37,046/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$37,046
$85,943 vs $48,897/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
82% lower
266.0 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$86k less
$155,200 vs $241,600
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $155,200 median home), income ($85,943 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 668 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.