Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($241,600 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.5%)
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $2,523/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
11% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $2,523 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Home Value
$62k less
$241,600 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$2,523
$88,466 vs $85,943/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
11% lower
235.7 vs 266.0 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
20.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 8 and San Tan Valley wins 15. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $304,000 median home), income ($85,943 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.