Is Aurora cheaper than Madison?

No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $2,089 in Aurora — 19% lower. Median household income is $78,685 in Aurora compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Aurora has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Aurora or Madison?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 137 in Aurora — 48% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Aurora or Madison?

School composites are close: A- in Aurora and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Aurora, CO vs Madison, WI

Aurora, CO versus Madison, WI is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $2,089 a month in Aurora and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $78,685 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Aurora takes job market, while Madison takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Madison leads by 48% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Aurora can feel further apart than Aurora and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Aurora and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Aurora report Full Madison report

Aurora, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $78,685
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 81°F

Madison, WI

Rent: $1,694/mo
Median income: $74,895
Crime index: 71
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Rent

19% cheaper

Madison rent is 19% cheaper than Aurora

Aurora

$2,089/mo

Madison

Winner

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,694 a month in Madison versus $2,089 in Aurora, so Madison is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,740 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Madison still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Aurora.

Median income

5% higher

Aurora's median income is 5% higher than Madison

Aurora

Winner

$78,685

Madison

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $78,685 in Aurora versus $74,895 in Madison, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Aurora — about $3,790 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

48% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 48% lower than Aurora

Aurora

137 (100 = avg)

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 137 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% lower in Madison. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Madison is the easier city. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Aurora and Madison are about even on school scores.

Aurora

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Aurora, A- in Madison). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

23% more comfortable

Madison weather is 23% more comfortable than Aurora

Aurora

81°F typical

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 23% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 81°F in Aurora and 66°F in Madison. Aurora reads as warm weather most of the year; Madison reads as mild, livable temperatures. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Madison is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Aurora can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Aurora

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Aurora is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($78,685). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Aurora report →

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,694 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Madison if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 23%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Madison is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 48% lower than Aurora (71 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Madison report →

Bottom line

Aurora vs Madison, called

If safety is your priority, Madison is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Aurora pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Madison offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Aurora vs Madison FAQ

Is Aurora cheaper than Madison?: No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $2,089 in Aurora — 19% lower. Median household income is $78,685 in Aurora compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Aurora has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Aurora or Madison?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 137 in Aurora — 48% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Aurora or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Aurora and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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