Is Aurora a Good Place to Live

Whether or not you’re a younger skilled on the lookout for residences for lease in Aurora or a possible homebuyer trying to find the proper home within the metropolis, this Chicago suburb has one thing to supply everybody. Nonetheless, it’s important to weigh the benefits and downsides of relocating to a brand new metropolis earlier than taking the leap.. On this article, we’ll discover the professionals and cons of dwelling in Aurora and assist you to decide whether or not or not this metropolis is the suitable match for you.

Professionals of dwelling in Aurora

1. Housing is comparatively reasonably priced

In comparison with many cities within the Chicago space, housing in Aurora is comparatively reasonably priced. The median house worth in Aurora is round $249,000, which is considerably decrease than the median house worth in close by cities like Naperville ($481,000) or Oak Brook ($1,250,000). Moreover, town presents a spread of housing choices, together with residences, condos, and single-family properties, which might accommodate a wide range of budgets. General, for these on the lookout for reasonably priced housing choices within the Chicago space, Aurora is certainly value contemplating.

2. There are wonderful colleges in Aurora

Aurora, Illinois is house to a number of nice colleges that present college students with high-quality academic alternatives. The town is served by 4 college districts, together with Aurora Public Faculties District 131, Indian Prairie College District 204, Oswego Group Unit College District 308, and West Aurora College District 129. These districts collectively function over 70 colleges, together with elementary, center, and excessive colleges. Aurora colleges are recognized for his or her various pupil inhabitants and dedication to educational excellence. The town has a number of specialised packages and colleges for presented and proficient college students. As well as, Aurora is house to a variety of larger schooling establishments, together with Aurora College and Waubonsee Group School.

3. Chicago is only a brief drive away from Aurora

One of many main benefits of dwelling in Aurora is its proximity to Chicago. Positioned simply 40 miles west of town, Aurora gives residents with quick access to all that the Windy Metropolis has to supply, together with world-class museums, eating places, and cultural occasions. For individuals who work in Chicago, dwelling in Aurora is usually a extra reasonably priced possibility than dwelling within the metropolis itself, whereas nonetheless offering entry to all of the facilities of city dwelling.

golfer putting on a golf course

4. There are many actions for locals to get pleasure from

Aurora presents residents a wealth of leisure alternatives. The town has a number of parks, starting from small neighborhood playgrounds to bigger regional parks with sports activities fields, picnic areas, and nature trails. A few of the hottest parks in Aurora embrace Phillips Park, which incorporates a golf course, zoo, and aquatic middle, and the Fox River Path, a scenic path that runs alongside the Fox River and is ideal for mountain climbing, biking, and jogging. As well as, town has many neighborhood facilities and sports activities complexes, providing a wide range of packages and actions for all ages. Whether or not you get pleasure from out of doors recreation or indoor actions, Aurora has one thing to supply for everybody.

5. Aurora is crammed with historic points of interest

Aurora is house to a wealthy historical past that’s preserved in lots of historic websites all through town. The Tanner Home Museum, for instance, is a fantastically restored 1857 mansion that provides guests a glimpse into the lifetime of Aurora’s early settlers. The Aurora Historic Society maintains a number of different historic buildings and websites, together with the David L. Pierce Artwork and Historical past Middle, the G.A.R. Memorial Museum, and the Roundhouse and Locomotive Depot. Moreover, town’s downtown space options a number of historic buildings which were repurposed as eating places, retailers, and different companies, including to the realm’s allure and character.

Cons of dwelling in Aurora

1. Socializing alternatives are restricted

The town has usually been criticized for its lack of nightlife choices. Regardless of being one of many largest cities within the state, town’s downtown space is comparatively quiet after darkish, with restricted choices for leisure, eating, and socializing. Many residents have expressed disappointment on the lack of bars, golf equipment, and music venues within the space, which might make it tough for locals to search out partaking social actions. Whereas efforts have been made in recent times to revitalize the downtown space, together with new eating places and cultural occasions, the nightlife scene in Aurora nonetheless falls brief in comparison with close by cities like Chicago. 

2. Aurora’s location makes it liable to flooding

Aurora, Illinois is vulnerable to flooding resulting from its location close to the Fox River and varied smaller creeks and streams that run all through town. The specter of flooding is especially excessive throughout heavy rainstorms, which might overwhelm the realm’s drainage techniques and trigger water ranges to rise quickly. As well as, melting snow and ice in the course of the spring thaw can even contribute to flooding. Through the years, Aurora has skilled a number of important floods which have triggered injury to properties and companies and disrupted day by day life for residents.

snow on tree branches

3. Winters in Aurora might be tough

Aurora experiences harsh winter climate, as is typical for the Midwest. The town sees a mean of virtually 30 inches of snowfall per yr, which might result in tough driving circumstances and occasional college or enterprise closures. Temperatures can even drop nicely under freezing, with common lows within the single digits in January and February. 

Whereas the snow and chilly could make it tough to get round, Aurora’s residents are well-prepared for winter climate, with town’s snow removing crews working diligently to maintain the streets clear. Moreover, most of the metropolis’s leisure alternatives, reminiscent of ice skating and sledding, are solely obtainable in the course of the winter months, giving residents an opportunity to benefit from the snow and chilly in their very own approach. 

4. Site visitors congestion is a standard difficulty

Site visitors in Aurora might be difficult at instances, significantly throughout rush hour and peak journey instances. As a significant metropolis within the Chicago metropolitan space, Aurora is positioned close to a number of main highways, together with I-88 and I-55, which may end up in important visitors congestion on the roads. As well as, town’s rising inhabitants and concrete sprawl have led to elevated visitors and longer commute instances for a lot of residents. Whereas Aurora has carried out some visitors administration measures, reminiscent of synchronized visitors lights and intersection enhancements, visitors congestion stays a major difficulty for the neighborhood. This could impression the standard of life for residents, making it tougher to commute to work or journey inside the metropolis.

5. Aurora lacks cultural establishments and facilities

Aurora is understood for its wealthy historical past and exquisite pure landscapes, however it may be stated that it lacks cultural facilities when in comparison with bigger cities like Chicago. Whereas Aurora does have some cultural establishments, such because the Aurora Regional Fireplace Museum and the Paramount Theatre, the general collection of museums, theaters, and different cultural facilities is comparatively restricted. This is usually a downside for residents who worth entry to all these actions, as they could must journey to close by cities to get pleasure from them.