Aurora, IL Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Aurora, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Aurora →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 181,405, Aurora, Illinois sits above the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $85,943 per year (+19% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in Aurora run a median $241,600, below the benchmark across cities in our dataset (-26%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $1,462. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
Aurora's home-price-to-income ratio of about 2.8× puts it in affordable territory — income here stretches further toward a home purchase than in many cities we track. Prices in the area have gained 5.75% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Aurora. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Aurora runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,462/mo in Aurora would take 20.4% of your income.
$687/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($241,600) would take 18.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$716/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Aurora
Median home value is $241,600 and median gross rent is $1,462/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Kane rose 5.75% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,781/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Aurora's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Aurora reported a violent crime rate of 220.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Aurora
Planning a move to Aurora? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Aurora, IL?
- Aurora's key cost-of-living figures: $241,600 median home value, $1,462 median monthly rent, and $85,943 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aurora?
- Aurora's median rent of $1,462/month works out to roughly $58,480 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Aurora.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Aurora?
- In Aurora, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,462/month) takes about $58,480 in annual income, while buying the median home ($241,600) takes roughly $55,277 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Aurora safe?
- Aurora's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 220.1 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Aurora →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Aurora's.