Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($241,600 vs $382,100)
43% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $13,921 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $13,921/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$13,921
$85,943 vs $72,022/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
43% lower
266.0 vs 470.3 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$141k less
$241,600 vs $382,100
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Summer Heat
21.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ 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) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 11 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $382,100 median home), income ($85,943 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Tempe, AZ are about 1,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.