Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($241,600 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,758)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Thornton by $9,121/yr
Thornton, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Households earn $9,121 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$204k less
$241,600 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$9,121
$95,064 vs $85,943/yr
Thornton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 15 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $445,200 median home), income ($85,943 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Thornton, CO are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.