Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo 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
San Mateo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1267k less ($241,600 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1509/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,971)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $63,209/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,209 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$1267k less
$241,600 vs $1,508,900
Aurora
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$63,209
$149,152 vs $85,943/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
9% lower
243.2 vs 266.0 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and San Mateo 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($85,943 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and San Mateo, CA are about 1,821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.