Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
51% less violent crime than Warren
Households earn $24,310 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Warren
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($169,300 vs $241,600)
Rent averages $323/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,462)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $24,310/yr
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$24,310
$85,943 vs $61,633/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
51% lower
266.0 vs 541.8 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Warren
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Median Home Value
$72k less
$169,300 vs $241,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 86.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 32.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Warren wins 10. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $169,300 median home), income ($85,943 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Warren, MI are about 274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.