Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
67% less violent crime than Phoenix
Homes cost $99k less ($241,600 vs $340,200)
Households earn $13,851 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 31°F
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,462)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $13,851/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$13,851
$85,943 vs $72,092/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
67% lower
266.0 vs 799.6 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$99k less
$241,600 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 11 and Phoenix wins 12. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $340,200 median home), income ($85,943 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.