Aurora, CO Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Aurora, CO: What You Need to Know

Aurora is Denver’s largest suburb and Colorado’s third most populous city, with a population of 379,289. It’s home to Buckley Air Force Base.

Job Opportunities

Aerospace companies are crucial to Colorado’s economy, and Aurora is a key player in the state’s aerospace-defense industry. More than one-third of Colorado’s aerospace jobs are located at Buckley Air Force Base. The 460th Space Wing is based at Buckley, where 1,445 Air Force members and 109 civilians work. Other defense-related companies in Aurora include Raytheon Co., Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. 

Local History

Aurora used to be called Fletcher, after Donald Fletcher, who founded the mining town in 1891. The Silver Panic in 1893 closed the mines, and a drought depressed property value in the area. In 1907, Fletcher was renamed Aurora. It was recognized as a city in 1928. Much of its growth occurred after World War II, thanks to three military facilities, although only Buckley remains today. Aurora gained notoriety when a gunman opened fire inside a movie theater on July 16, 2015, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others. James Holmes was found guilty in the mass shooting and sentenced to life in prison.

Cost of Living

The breathtaking beauty of the Rocky Mountains that surround Aurora doesn’t come cheap. The city’s cost of living rate and housing costs are 12.5% and 16.4% higher than the national average respectively. At least, food cost is 2% lower than the national average. The median gross rent is $1,328. The Centennial State levies a flat income tax rate of 4.63% and 2.90% to 11.20% in sales tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Aurora is so big that it encompasses three counties: Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas. Residents love the many opportunities for hiking, biking, and other forms of outdoor recreation in the area. Families with school-age children are drawn to Centennial and Littleton, both in Arapahoe County, for their superb schools and proximity to both Aurora and Denver.

Weather and Climate

Water has been an issue in Aurora since its founding. More than 75 percent of Colorado, which has a semi-arid to a very arid climate, suffers from drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Although Aurora gets 62 inches of snow per year, a lot more than the U.S. average of 28 inches, it only receives 17 inches of rain annually versus the national average of 38 inches. The city promotes water conservation and enforces restrictions when necessary.