Aurora, IL vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Aurora
73.2
#764 nationally
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Aurora leads in cost of living index (105 vs 129). Austin leads in average commute (26.8 min vs 28.6 min). Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $85,943).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.2 (#764) | 68.3 (#1322) |
| Population | 177,563 | 967,862 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $326,890 | $504,148 |
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $91,461 |
| Average Commute | 28.6 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 40 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 7.3 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 129 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | D+39.3 |
C
73.2 Score
Aurora, IL
Mid-size Illinois city with community character
Median Home
$326,890
Population
177,563
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
40
Midwest
View Aurora, IL →
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →