Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
San Bernardino
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
70% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Homes cost $106k less ($241,600 vs $347,100)
Households earn $24,620 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Rent averages $143/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,462)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Median income trails Aurora by $24,620/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$24,620
$85,943 vs $61,323/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
70% lower
266.0 vs 897.1 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$106k less
$241,600 vs $347,100
Aurora
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 15 and San Bernardino wins 8. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $347,100 median home), income ($85,943 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.