Aurora, COBest Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024

Sunglasses are a year-round accessory, as Colorado gets more than 300 days of sunshine. December and January are the chilliest months, with average highs in the low 40s, and July is peak summer, with highs in the upper 80s. The average highs and lows are 86°F and 56°F (summer) and 45°F and 18°F (winter).

The average annual snowfall in Aurora is around 54 inches of snow.

The average annual rainfall in Aurora is 16 inches per year.

Aurora averages 245 sunny days a year.

Spend an afternoon walking and exploring the Jewell Wetlands, a 50-acre woodsy oasis with a butterfly garden. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge has 15,000 acres of open space with great spots to see bison and pronghorn deer. You can also drive the 11-mile Wildlife Drive tour while listening to the “Refuge” podcast to learn more about the animals that call this special place home.

Get a feel for what life was like on the prairie in the 1800s at the Plains Conservation Center, which has a tipi camp and homestead village. Bring binoculars because you may spot bald eagles. Follow it up with a self-guided audio tour (and lots of selfies, too) of the Colfax Canvas Murals.

Drop in for storytime at Tattered Cover inside the famed Stanley Marketplace. Afterward, fuel up with some churros to dunk in chocolate at Churreria de Madrid.

Aurora is the best spot in the state for international cuisine, with 250 independently owned ethnic eateries.

Southlands is an outdoor mall with restaurants and shops, and it also hosts fun seasonal events like ice skating and farmers markets.

For a memorable meal, make a dinner reservation at award-winning Annette, a sweet restaurant built around a wood-fired grill that roasts fish and chicken to perfection.

The Aurora Fox Arts Center is the premiere spot to catch a show in Aurora. The theater houses the Aurora Symphony Orchestra and Aurora Fox Theatre Company and offers residents professional, Broadway-quality performances.

Traveling Mercies is an oyster and cocktail bar that not only hosts a daily happy hour but also has something for night owls: a reverse happy hour from 8 to 10 p.m., during which bottles of wine over $80 are half off.

Military, defense and health care are significant industries in Aurora. Buckley Air Force Base, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Children’s Hospital and Raytheon are some of the city’s biggest employers.

In 2024, the sales tax rate in Aurora is 8%.

Yes, Colorado has a state income tax.

Due to the city’s close proximity to Denver, Aurora residents have access to many highly ranked health care providers, both within city limits and in nearby Denver. Some of the biggest systems include the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital.

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Aurora Community College are both located in the city.