Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $49k less ($241,600 vs $290,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 31°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Home Value
$49k less
$241,600 vs $290,800
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
41% lower
156.4 vs 266.0 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $85,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 38.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 8 and New Braunfels wins 15. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $290,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and New Braunfels, TX are about 998 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.