Best Life Index › States › Illinois › Cities › Aurora

Illinois city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Aurora?

What it costs to live in Aurora, and how it compares with other Illinois cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

48

92nd best value in Illinois

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Illinois cities.

Overall livability

54

64th overall in Illinois

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Aurora is home to about 183,447 people. A typical home runs $208,500 and a household earns around $79,600, a price-to-income ratio of 2.6. Among Illinois's largest cities, it ranks 92nd for value and 64th overall.

Aurora at a glance

Median home price

$208,500

71st in IL of 163

Median rent

$1,359/mo

Median household income

$79,600

Home price to income

2.6x

Unemployment

5.7%

101st in IL of 163

School rating

7/10

71st in IL of 163

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IL of 163

Walk score

21/100

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‹ See all top Illinois cities ranked  ยท  Illinois state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Illinois only. Updated 2026.