The Town FilesAurora, Illinois
City in Kane County · population 180,542 (2020 Census) · spans 4 counties
- Median home
- $274,800
- Household income
- $93,633
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 35.2
Aurora is a city of 180,542 people in Kane County, Illinois. The median home is worth $274,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 89% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Illinois towns.
How Aurora ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Aurora is worth $274,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $93,633, which is more affordable than 24% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,596 a month. 66.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aurora | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,596 | $960 |
| Median household income | $93,633 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Aurora
| People | Aurora | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Aurora
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurora since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on August 28, 1990 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 29 deaths and 369 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 152 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Kane County since 1996
Kane County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kane County
Kane County had 213,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,791 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Aurora itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Aurora
52 public schools with 36,131 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East High School | 9-12 | 4,019 | 18.8 |
| West Aurora High School | 9-12 | 3,655 | 15.3 |
| Metea Valley High School | 9-12 | 2,807 | 14.5 |
| Waubonsie Valley High School | 9-12 | 2,781 | 16.0 |
| Francis Granger Middle School | 6-8 | 1,013 | 14.1 |
| Fischer Middle School | 6-8 | 904 | 13.5 |
| Henry W Cowherd Middle School | 6-8 | 850 | 13.1 |
| K D Waldo Middle School | 6-8 | 794 | 12.6 |
| Olney C Allen Elem School | PK-5 | 739 | 18.5 |
| C F Simmons Middle School | 6-8 | 737 | 11.3 |
| Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary | K-5 | 707 | 17.7 |
| Washington Middle School | 6-8 | 689 | 16.4 |
Towns near Aurora
- North Aurora, IL4.1 mi · 18,261 people · home $342,100
- Boulder Hill, IL4.3 mi · 8,394 people · home $238,700
- Montgomery, IL4.6 mi · 20,262 people · home $299,500
- Batavia, IL5.9 mi · 26,098 people · home $387,400
- Oswego, IL6.1 mi · 34,585 people · home $344,500
- Warrenville, IL6.6 mi · 13,553 people · home $286,100
- Naperville, IL6.7 mi · 149,540 people · home $540,200
- Sugar Grove, IL8.1 mi · 9,278 people · home $401,900
Aurora questions
Is Aurora, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aurora scores better for retirees than 7% of Illinois towns and quieter than 3%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Aurora?
The median owner-occupied home in Aurora is valued at $274,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,633, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,596 a month.
What is the weather like in Aurora?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 27.9 inches of snow.
Does Aurora get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on August 28, 1990. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)