Aurora, IL vs Watertown, SD
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Aurora
73.2
#764 nationally
Watertown
74.5
#590 nationally
Watertown leads in average commute (13.6 min vs 28.6 min). Aurora leads in median household income ($85,943 vs $61,320). Aurora leads in crime level (7.3 vs 8.3).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Watertown, SD |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.2 (#764) | 74.5 (#590) |
| Population | 177,563 | 23,230 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $326,890 | $316,022 |
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $61,320 |
| Average Commute | 28.6 min | 13.6 min |
| Walk Score | 40 | 36 |
| Crime Level | 7.3 | 8.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 96 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | R+40.8 |
C
73.2 Score
Aurora, IL
Mid-size Illinois city with community character
Median Home
$326,890
Population
177,563
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
40
Midwest
View Aurora, IL →
C
74.5 Score
Watertown, SD
Small South Dakota city with local appeal
Median Home
$316,022
Population
23,230
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
36
Midwest
View Watertown, SD →