Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Aurora leads 13 of 22 categories
Aurora
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $34,492 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.6%)
18% less violent crime than Waterbury
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($162,800 vs $241,600)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,462)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $34,492/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$34,492
$85,943 vs $51,451/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
18% lower
266.0 vs 322.5 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$79k less
$162,800 vs $241,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Aurora leads 13 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 13 and Waterbury wins 9. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $162,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Waterbury, CT are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.