Aurora
Colorado's third-largest city, affordable, connected, and anchored by the Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora is Colorado's third-largest city, about 403,000 people spread across 154 square miles and three counties (Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas), immediately east of Denver. The Anschutz Medical Campus, the largest medical hub in the Rockies, and Buckley Space Force Base anchor the local economy.
The frame for buyers: Front Range affordability with big-city services, light rail, and one of the best international dining corridors in the state, all without Denver-proper prices.
Browse all 46 Aurora neighborhoods
By Jessica Car · Updated August 2026
Lifestyle & Culture
No eastern-corridor community matches Aurora's amenity depth. Stanley Marketplace packs 50-plus local vendors into a restored aviation hangar, including the James Beard semifinalist Annette, Rosenberg's, and Comida, while the Havana Street corridor ranks among Colorado's best international dining strips. Grocery coverage is vast: 10-plus King Soopers, multiple Safeways, plus H Mart, Pacific Ocean Marketplace, and Costco.
Outdoor space runs big too. Cherry Creek State Park brings 4,200 acres, a reservoir, and 35 miles of trails, Aurora Reservoir adds 820 acres with scuba and sailing, and the Plains Conservation Center preserves native prairie. The Gaylord Rockies resort, the Southlands open-air mall, and the Aurora Fox Arts Center round out the amenity list, with Aurora Fest, Global Fest, and First Friday at Stanley keeping the calendar full.
- Aug 22recurringSouthlands Farmers MarketSouthlands, Main Street · A weekly outdoor farmers market on Main Street at Southlands with local produce, dairy, and baked goods, running through late September.
- Aug 27The Divine 9: Black Greek Life in ColoradoAurora History Museum · A free program at the Aurora History Museum on the history and impact of Black sororities and fraternities in Colorado.
- Sep 4recurringFirst Fridays Creator MarketStanley Marketplace · A monthly evening market at Stanley Marketplace with curated booths of regional artists selling handcrafted art, jewelry, ceramics, and textiles.
- Sep 5recurringRebel MarketplaceDel Mar Park · A community-run farmers market at Del Mar Park offering produce, meat, dairy, and artisanal goods from small neighborhood growers, held on first and third Saturdays through mid-October.
- Sep 10recurringCoffee on the GreenwayMorrison Nature Center · A free monthly morning gathering at Morrison Nature Center along the Sand Creek Regional Greenway with coffee and updates on greenway programs.
- Oct 1 – Nov 1Feeding BeatriceAurora Fox Arts Center · The Colorado premiere of a gothic drama by Kirsten Greenidge about a couple whose renovated home holds unsettling secrets, staged on the Aurora Fox Mainstage.
- Oct 10–11Music from Middle Earth: Lord of the Rings and its InspirationsHinkley High School · An Aurora Symphony Orchestra concert program of orchestral works inspired by The Lord of the Rings, performed over two shows at Hinkley High School.
- Oct 31Mall-O-WeenTown Center at Aurora · A daytime Halloween event at Town Center at Aurora with costumed trick-or-treating at participating stores throughout the mall.
- Nov 1recurringDia de los Muertos CelebrationTallyn's Reach Library · A Dia de los Muertos celebration at Tallyn's Reach Library presented with Amigos de Mexico, part of the Aurora Public Library's annual observance.
- Nov 12recurringVeterans SaluteWings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum · An annual evening reception honoring veterans and active-duty military with museum exhibits and live entertainment, hosted by the City of Aurora.
At a Glance
Who Aurora Fits
Aurora fits buyers who want Front Range affordability, strong airport and transit access, and global dining, without needing a Denver address.
The trade-offs flow from scale. A 154-square-mile city spread over three counties and two school districts varies enormously block to block, so the Cherry Creek-versus-APS line belongs at the top of any research list. Buyers who want affordability, services, transit, and dining depth, and who will do the address-level homework, get more amenity per dollar here than anywhere else on the eastern corridor. Buyers who want uniform suburban character should focus the search on a specific sub-area.
Updated August 2026
Cost of Living in Aurora
Estimated monthly cost at the $455,000 median home price and a $500 car payment. Open the calculator to adjust for your situation.
Estimated monthly cost
$4,370 – $4,570/mo
Covers housing, transportation, utilities, and groceries.
See the full breakdown: mortgage at today's rate, property tax at Aurora's mill levy, utilities at local provider rates, and a gas estimate tuned to the commute distance. Adjust sliders to model your own budget.
Schools & Childcare
Compare schools across every metro community in the Schools & Parks guide.
Two very different districts split the city, and the boundary is the biggest quality-of-life variable in Aurora. South and southeast Aurora fall under Cherry Creek School District, rated A and ranked No. 1 in Colorado, with Cherokee Trail, Grandview, and the A+ flagship Cherry Creek High among its campuses. Central and north Aurora belong to Aurora Public Schools (C+), with Rangeview and Aurora Central among its high schools. Few metro school lines carry more weight than this one.
District boundaries are complex in Denver. Verify school assignment by address.
- Cherokee Trail HS
- Grandview HS
- Cherry Creek HS
- Challenge School and Cherry Creek Charter
- Rangeview HS
- Aurora Central HS
- APS serves central and north Aurora
Commute & Transit
See drive and transit times for the whole metro in the Commute guide.
Transit is a genuine strength. The RTD R Line runs 13 stations through Aurora, and the A Line reaches DIA in 37 minutes, departing every 15 minutes. By car, downtown Denver is 20 to 25 minutes off-peak via I-225, the Denver Tech Center 15 to 20 minutes south, and DIA 20 to 35 minutes depending on the start point. Day to day the city is car-oriented, with a Walk Score of 43 that climbs in pockets like Del Mar Parkway.
Get A Market Snapshot
What Homes Cost
Updated August 2026
The median home runs $450K to $459K as of February 2026, down about 3.2% year over year, at roughly $240 per square foot, and entry condos start near $200K. That is $100K to $200K below Denver proper. The structural caveat comes with the territory: spanning three counties means property tax rates, county services, and school districts all change with the address.
Resources
Combined sales tax is 8.0%, and the median property tax bill lands around $2,902, varying by county. Housing runs about 5% below the national average and utilities about 13% below, competitive with Denver and usually under it. Xcel provides power and gas, with Comcast, CenturyLink, and T-Mobile for internet. At 5,471 feet, plan on roughly 60 inches of annual snow and about 300 sunny days.
Similar Communities
Communities in the same region, same county, or a similar price tier as Aurora.
Common QuestionsFAQ, Aurora
What are the school ratings in Aurora?
Aurora is served by two very different districts. Cherry Creek School District (Niche A, #1 Best School District in Colorado 2026) covers south and southeast Aurora and includes Cherokee Trail HS (#19 Best Public HS in CO) and Grandview HS. Aurora Public Schools (Niche C+) serves central and north Aurora. Which district serves your address is the single biggest variable. Always verify enrollment by address before buying.
How is the commute from Aurora to downtown Denver?
The off-peak drive to downtown Denver is 20–25 minutes via I-225 to I-25 or Colfax. Rush hour stretches that to 35–55 minutes. Aurora also has robust transit: the RTD R Line light rail runs 13 stations through the city, and the RTD A Line commuter rail reaches DIA in 37 minutes ($10.50) with trains every 15 minutes.
What is the median home price in Aurora?
The median home price in Aurora is $450K–$459K as of February 2026, down 3.2–4.5% year-over-year. Price per square foot averages ~$240/sqft. Entry condos start from approximately $200K, making Aurora one of the more affordable major metros on the Front Range compared to Denver’s $600K+ median.
What outdoor recreation is available in Aurora?
Aurora offers significant outdoor resources. Cherry Creek State Park spans 4,200 acres with an 880-acre reservoir, 35 miles of trails, boating, a swimming beach, and camping. Aurora Reservoir covers 820 acres and features scuba diving, sailing, and paddleboarding. The Toll Gate Creek Trail (8+ miles) and Triple Creek Trail provide connected neighborhood routes, and the Plains Conservation Center preserves 1,100 acres of native prairie.
What is the cost of living in Aurora compared to the national average?
Housing in Aurora runs approximately 5% below the national average, and utilities are about 13% below. The combined sales tax rate is 8.0% (state 2.9% + county + city 3.25%), and the median annual property tax bill is ~$2,902. Note that Aurora spans three counties (Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas) so your property tax rate varies by location.
What dining and brewery options are available in Aurora?
Aurora has a standout dining scene anchored by two hubs: • Stanley Marketplace, 50+ vendors including Annette (James Beard semifinalist, wood-fired), Rosenberg’s Bagels, and Comida (tacos and tequila) • Havana Street corridor, one of Colorado’s best international food corridors with Ethiopian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Mexican restaurants • 10+ breweries and taprooms including Stanley Beer Hall, Dry Dock Brewing, Launch Pad Brewing, and Ursula Brewery • Southlands Farmers Market (summer) and Stanley Marketplace First Friday round out the food scene.
What healthcare facilities are in Aurora?
Aurora is home to the Anschutz Medical Campus, the largest medical hub in the Rocky Mountain region with over 27,000 employees and 2M+ square feet of research space. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the campus is a Level I Trauma Center. Children’s Hospital Colorado is also located at Anschutz, along with multiple UCHealth Urgent Care, CareNow, and MedExpress locations throughout the city.