Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($241,600 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,054)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.6%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $10,276/yr
West Covina, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
Households earn $10,276 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$423k less
$241,600 vs $664,500
Aurora
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$10,276
$96,219 vs $85,943/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
10% lower
239.3 vs 266.0 per 100k
West Covina
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 14 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $664,500 median home), income ($85,943 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and West Covina, CA are about 1,690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.