Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($241,600 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,699)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $19,736/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
43% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $19,736 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$171k less
$241,600 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$19,736
$105,679 vs $85,943/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
43% lower
151.6 vs 266.0 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 7 and Plano wins 16. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $412,500 median home), income ($85,943 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Plano, TX are about 759 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.