Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 21 categories
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $22,932 more per year on average
Homes cost $64k less ($241,600 vs $305,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $22,932/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$22,932
$85,943 vs $63,011/yr
Aurora
Median Home Value
$64k less
$241,600 vs $305,600
Aurora
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 266.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 21 categories. Aurora wins 12 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $305,600 median home), income ($85,943 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Worcester, MA are about 845 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.