#91. Aurora, CO
| Aurora, CO Quality of Life Liv Score 600 How We Calculate Our Data |
|---|
| Civics | 27 |
| Demographics | 74 |
| Economy | 94 |
| Education | 46 |
| Health | 51 |
| Housing | 53 |
| Infrastructure | 48 |
| Amenities | 50 |
Why Aurora is one of the best cities to live in
Aurora, CO, has it all: A mighty strong economy bolstered by an air force base and leading medical campus, savvy residents making profound biomedical breakthroughs, nearly 100 parks, and lots of locally-owned restaurants. The icing on the cake? The city’s diverse population and entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, one of the city’s esteemed chefs, Caroline Glover of Annette, just nabbed her first James Beard Award, putting a spotlight on Aurora’s amazing culinary scene. Aurora ranks high in the demographics category as a minority-majority city, with a diverse population of Latino, African American, Asian and foreign-born residents. As a next-door neighbor to Denver, Aurora is the third-largest city in Colorado and one of the best places to live in the U.S. Some extra livability perks include close proximity to the Denver International Airport and an astounding 300 days of sunshine annually.
Military, defense and health care are big industries. Buckley Air Force Base, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Children‘s Hospital and Raytheon are some of the city’s biggest employers.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus & Aurora Community College
Aurora residents experience all four seasons and close proximity to the Rocky Mountains, which means scenic fall foliage road trips and powder days are in the forecast.
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 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.
Aurora, CO is Remote-Ready
The cost of living in Aurora is above the national average but below the state average. Most residents rent their homes. Aurora’s internet speeds outmatch neighboring Denver and Colorado Springs. Although the city is very spread out, fast internet and plenty of laptop-friendly cafes and bars make it easy to find a place to land and work. Its proximity to Denver also makes it a best-of-both-worlds city, with the suburban benefits of a smaller town and the nightlife benefits of a bigger city.
What Locals Love in Aurora, CO
The Tattered Cover Book Store recently opened a cute children’s bookstore in The Stanley Marketplace and hosts story hours.
Head to Cherry Creek Reservoir, where you can paddleboard and fish in the warmer months and snowshoe during the winter. The reservoir also has campsites if you want to turn your visit into a weekend staycation.
Take a self-guided audio tour (and lots of selfies, too) of the Colfax Canvas Murals.
Sky Bar at Stanley is a retro-swanky cocktail lounge with fantastic views and cocktails inspired by destinations. Order the Paris – it’s made with Biscoff Cookie Cognac.
Aurora has more than 250 independently owned ethnic restaurants.
Thinking of Moving to Aurora, Colorado?
You’ll find listings of Aurora homes for sale as well as all of Colorado real estate on eXp Realty and you can refine your search. These top-rated real estate agents in Aurora are local eXperts and are ready to answer your questions about the best new neighborhoods.
Quick Facts About Aurora, CO
- Average Commute
- 29.1
- Median Home Value
- $529,169
- Med. Household Income
- $67,723
- Total Population
- 379,434
- Walk Score
- 38
- Median Property Tax
- $1,686
