Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $607k less ($241,600 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $686/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,148)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $23,392/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $23,392 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$607k less
$241,600 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$23,392
$109,335 vs $85,943/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
15% lower
226.1 vs 266.0 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Orange wins 13. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $848,200 median home), income ($85,943 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Orange, CA are about 1,696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.