Places › Colorado › Aurora

Living in Aurora, CO

Big city in Colorado

Aurora is a big city in Colorado, home to about 390,000 people, with 2.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Aurora a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 16 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Low taxes: about $1,517 state income tax per resident, 0.52% property tax
  • Easy flying: DEN is 14 mi away
  • Low natural disaster risk: 3 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: few parks and no water close by

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Aurora ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
390,000
2.9 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
48°F / 88°F
Average daily highs · 49″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$446k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,730/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
106
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,517
State income tax per resident · 0.52% property tax
Safety
1.9× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
3 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly hail, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
16
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
33%
3 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
DEN
14 mi away

Living in Aurora: common questions

What is the cost of living in Aurora?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $446k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,730 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 106, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Aurora?

Colorado collects about $1,517 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.52% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Aurora safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.9× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Aurora?

Aurora has cold winters: winter days average around 48°F and summer days around 88°F, with roughly 49″ of snow a year.

Does Aurora get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from hail, flooding and tornadoes: 3 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.32 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Aurora?

The nearest major airport is DEN, about 14 mi away.

How Aurora scores

Each bar compares Aurora with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Big city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly walkable Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Moderate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Average
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Good
🧸Kids & family Good
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Below average
🎭Culture Good
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Good
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Excellent

Places like Aurora

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Aurora right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.