Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1439k less ($241,600 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1528/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,990)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $88,563/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $88,563 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$1439k less
$241,600 vs $1,680,700
Aurora
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$88,563
$174,506 vs $85,943/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
8% lower
244.5 vs 266.0 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 11 and Sunnyvale wins 12. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($85,943 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,810 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.