Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Richmond
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $26,337 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Richmond
Homes cost $67k less ($241,600 vs $308,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $26,337/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$26,337
$85,943 vs $59,606/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
21% lower
266.0 vs 336.9 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$67k less
$241,600 vs $308,300
Aurora
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $308,300 median home), income ($85,943 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Richmond, VA are about 645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.