Moving to Aurora, Colorado: Things You Need to Know

Are you considering moving to Aurora, Colorado?

Aurora, Colorado is a great place to live because it houses a lot of fine people who care about their community. Whether you’re considering moving to Aurora, Colorado you’re going to want to know before moving here. Aurora has a lot of parks that encourage recreational activities for the rising generation in order to promote healthy living, exercise, and making friendships all while having a great time.

Aurora, Colorado is the state’s third-largest city, and it’s known for its cultural food, artistic exhibits, outdoor recreation, and relaxing atmosphere. Sailing, golfing, art, fast-pitch softball, and live theater are examples of common things to do in the city.

What is it like living in Aurora, Colorado

Cost of living

Aurora, Colorado has an unemployment rate of 7.6%. The US average is 6.0%. Aurora has seen the job market increase by 2.8% over the last year. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 42.5%, which is higher than the US average of 33.5% according to BestPlaces.

Housing Market

The typical home value of homes in Aurora is $514,942. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Aurora’s home values have gone up 25.3% over the past year.

Childcare

The average cost of a childcare provider in Aurora, Colorado is $16.04 per hour. You can expect to pay an hourly rate between $12.56 and $25. A child care provider’s hourly rate can depend on their location, responsibilities, qualifications, and the type of care needed.

Health care

Adult daycare costs in Aurora are $1,625, which is fairly standard for the state as a whole. Most areas fall between $1,400 and $1,750, with the notable exception of Pueblo. While Pueblo may be significantly less expensive for other types of seniors services, adult daycare costs an average of $1,950 — $325 more than in Aurora.

Groceries

MIT’s Living Wage Calculator places the annual living wage of a single adult with no children in Aurora, Colorado at $27,444. Of that income, MIT estimates that $3,573 will be spent on food, which makes up 13%. This percentage rises slightly for a family with two working adults and two children, as 14.4% of their $73,132 worth of income is spent on food.

The monthly costs of food vary from city to city. 2019 data from Numbeo.com indicates that Aurora residents can expect to spend $337.09 a month on food, whereas Colorado Springs residents will pay $348.53. For reference, the national average is $323.72.

The economy in Aurora, Colorado

Aurora, Colorado has an unemployment rate of 7.6%. The US average is 6.0%. Aurora, Colorado has seen the job market increase by 2.8% over the last year. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 42.5%, which is higher than the US average of 33.5% according to BestPlaces.

Income and Salaries for Aurora, Colorado

As of Apr 11, 2022, the average annual pay for a Full Time in Aurora is $44,560 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $21.42 an hour. This is the equivalent of $857/week or $3,713/month.

Effective Tax Rates

• Property Tax: Colorado’s property taxes are lower than the rest of the country, according to Movoto. However, your property taxes are based on Colorado’s state tax rate, plus your county’s and Aurora’s property tax rate. Your unique property tax rate depends on home value as well as other factors like the city tax rate, the school district tax rate, and the water and sanitation tax rate. So, while you start with a low state property tax, Adams County presents a hefty tax that makes the total tax rate higher than other locations throughout the nation.
• Sales Tax: Avalara states that Aurora’s sales tax rate is 8%. This rate includes a total of state, county, and city tax rates.
• Income Tax: The income tax rate in Colorado is a flat rate of 4.63%, according to SmartAsset. Everyone in all of Colorado pays the same percentage of their income, regardless of their income level.

Top industries

1. Health Care
2. Social Assistance
3. Retail Trade
4. Food Services
5. Customer Service

Traffic and transportation

What kind of public transportation options does Aurora provide its residents? According to AuroraGov, the Regional Transportation District offers a modern light rail transit system that connects Aurora with Denver. There are also small networks of buses in the southern part of the city.

Major highways in the area include east-west Interstate 70 which connects Aurora to Denver, north-south Interstate 225, and the E-470 toll road. The Denver Channel shows a ranking from WalletHub, which names Aurora the 20th worst US city to drive in. This study is based not on traffic, but instead on the cost of owning a car, gas prices, road quality, accidents, and other factors. Aurora is known to have bad traffic and commute times, especially for those who go to Denver for work.

Pros and Cons of living in Aurora, Colorado

Pros:

• Affordable Housing Compared to Colorado
• Unique Shops & Stores
• Lots of Entertainment & Restaurants
• Proximity to Denver
• Thriving Job Opportunities
• Proximity to the Denver International Airport

Cons:

• Expensive Housing & Transportation Compared to the Nation
• Rapid Growth & Crowding
• Terrible Traffic
• Expensive Transportation

Is Aurora, Colorado A Good Place To Live?

Aurora is a great place to live, especially when you want to slow down with a relaxing atmosphere, plenty of outdoor recreation, and great places to eat. On top of that, it also enjoys a great healthcare system, which is one reason many families choose to live here. Aurora’s weather is mild in the summer but gets more than double the average amount of US snowfall, making it a great place for enjoying winter recreation.

Education in Aurora, Colorado

Aurora, Colorado continues to rank at the top of the nation’s “Best of” lists, and our student body is no exception. Ranked 5th among the most educated cities in Colorado according to USNews, 38 percent of Coloradans have at least a bachelor’s degree, the second-highest college attainment rate in the country, and 14 percent hold a graduate or professional degree.

Aurora schools spend $9,673 per student (The US average is $12,383). There are 20 pupils per teacher, 2,198 students per librarian, and 349 children per counselor.

Best schools in Aurora, Colorado

These are the top 3 schools in Aurora, Colorado according to USNews.

1. Aurora Quest K-8

Student/ Teacher Ratio: 22:1
Math Proficiency: 89
Reading Proficiency: 93

Aurora Quest K-8 is a public school located in Aurora, CO, which is in a large city setting. The student population of Aurora Quest K-8 is 595 and the school serves K-8. At Aurora Quest K-8, 89% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 93% scored at or above that level for reading.

The school’s minority student enrollment is 55%. There are 28 equivalent full-time teachers and 1 full-time school counselor.

How to Enroll

If you are interested in learning more about Aurora Quest K-8, you can sign-up for either an in-person or virtual session. Click here

2. Murphy Creek K-8 School

Student/ Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Math Proficiency: 48%
Reading Proficiency: 56%

Murphy Creek K-8 School is a public school. The student population of Murphy Creek K-8 School is 724 and the school serves PK-8. At Murphy Creek K-8 School, 48% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 56% scored at or above that level for reading.

Murphy Creek K-8 School is ranked #186 in Colorado Elementary Schools and ranked #69 in Colorado Middle Schools according to USNews. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school.

How to Enroll

If you are interested in learning more about Murphy Creek K-8 School, you can sign-up for either an in-person or virtual session. Click here

3. Aurora Frontier P-8

Student/ Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Math Proficiency: 46%
Reading Proficiency: 63%

Aurora Frontier P-8 is a public school. The student population of Aurora Frontier P-8 is 692 and the school serves PK-8. At Aurora Frontier P-8, 46% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 63% scored at or above that level for reading.

Aurora Frontier P-8 is ranked #286 in Colorado Elementary Schools and ranked #40 in Colorado Middle Schools according to USNews. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school.

How to Enroll

If you are interested in learning more about Aurora Frontier P-8 School, you can sign-up for either an in-person or virtual session. Click here for more information.

Retired in Aurora, Colorado

Aurora ranked 15th in the study, titled “Best Places to Retire,” best in Colorado only by Colorado Springs, which came in at No. 11. Denver ranked 30th.

Anyone who enjoys outdoor sports, particularly snow sports, would enjoy retiring in Aurora. It has many nice housing developments, particularly in the SE part of town. The Philip Anschutz Medical Complex in North Aurora is a well-intentioned effort to improve that area of a town; however, it would be fair to say that north Aurora is still not suitable for retirees except for the burgeoning communities of Northfield and Stapleton that are good examples of the effort towards community revival and redevelopment in that area.

5 Things to do in Aurora, Colorado

1. Cherry Creek State Park

Enjoy fresh air in the beautiful outdoors at Cherry Creek State Park also known as “Denver’s spacious backyard playground”. There’s so much to see and enjoy in the park which surrounds an 880-acre reservoir. The natural prairie environment is action-packed in the summer and laid back and quiet in the fall.

During your visit there you can enjoy activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, model airplane flying, or having fun at the family shooting range. Other features and amenities include a designated picnic area, a boat ramp, walking trails, and campgrounds.

2. Southlands

A modern Main Street in the heart of southeast Aurora, Southlands is a hub for fashion, dining, and entertainment. It’s a wonderful place to gather with friends and family as the atmosphere is charming, comfortable, and convenient.

The centerpiece of the area is the Southlands outdoor lifestyle center and it’s surrounded by a community plaza, Main Street, a state-of-the-art health club facility, a theater, restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail stores. Some of the stores and restaurants there are H&M, Barnes & Noble, American Eagle, Eddie Bauer, Charming Charlie, Best Buy, Ted’s Montana Grill, and Tokyo Joe’s.

3. Aurora Reservoir

The Aurora Reservoir spans over 31,000 acres and has three coves: Senac, Lone Tree, and Marina. In addition to being a recreational area and stunning green space, the reservoir and its surroundings also provide drinking water to the city of Aurora.

There are many things that you can do while you’re there such as jogging, hiking, biking, boating, and fishing – anglers often head there to catch catfish, trout, or walleye. Visitors are invited to go swimming on the small seasonal swim beach or enjoy scuba diving in the designated diving area. Other features and amenities include a boat dock and a rental equipment shack.

4. Aurora History Museum

A part of the Library and Cultural Services Department, the Aurora History Museum was established in 1979. Though it has moved out of the original building it was housed in, the museum continues to display a large collection of artifacts and documents. These exhibits showcase the people and events that shaped the history of Aurora and Colorado.

There are several rotating exhibits that highlight different aspects of the city such as Drink Local: Aurora’s Craft Beer Scene which is an exhibition that showcases the history of craft beer in the area whilst inviting current companies from the brewing industry to participate.

5. Vintage Theatre

The Vintage Theater came to be as a group of friends discussed their love for the arts over martinis in 2002. Within a few years, they bought a lovely theater and their company grew, providing a haven for the community to enjoy cutting-edge theater, improv, staged readings, workshops, classes, and more.

The theater has three performance spaces: the 145-seat Jeffrey Nickelson Auditorium, the 67-seat Bond Trimble Theater, and the 60-seat lobby-raised stage. All of the areas provide a full bar service and are soundproofed and temperature controlled. Visitors can enjoy performances throughout the year; one of their most popular productions, Rabbit Hole (2016), received the Henry Award for Best Production.