Aurora

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Aurora, IL Area Guide

Where big-city amenities meet small-town charm.

Commutes • Suburban • Community • Events • Architecture • Riverfront • Attractions •

Living in Aurora, Illinois combines suburban comfort with city amenities in Chicago's western suburbs. As Illinois' second-largest city, Aurora offers housing options throughout its distinct neighborhoods, from historic downtown residences to newer construction on the Far East Side. The Fox River flows through the heart of the city, where the restored downtown features the historic Paramount Theatre and an expanding selection of local businesses. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound along the Fox River Trail system and at Phillips Park, home to a free zoo and golf course. Current rental data shows one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,607 per month, reflecting a 5.2% increase over the past year.

Aurora's history shines through its nickname "City of Lights," earned in 1881 as one of the first U.S. cities to implement all-electric street lighting. The community houses several educational institutions, including Aurora University and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The city is served by multiple school districts. Downtown Aurora continues to grow, anchored by the Waubonsee Community College campus along the Fox River. Two Metra stations provide direct access to Chicago, while preserved architectural landmarks like the Paramount Theatre and Leland Tower showcase the city's historic character, offering residents convenient access to both suburban amenities and urban opportunities.

Explore the City

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Aurora, IL is $1,204 for a studio, $1,608 for one bedroom, $1,971 for two bedrooms, and $2,325 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Aurora has increased by 0.4% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,608/month
720 Sq Ft
House
$3,053/month
1,821 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,291/month
1,210 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,761/month
1,594 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Aurora, IL

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Aurora, IL is for everyday living.

Somewhat Walkable

50 / 100

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

Minimal Transit

23 / 100

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

Bikeable

56 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Scores provided by Walk Score

Schools

Reba O Steck Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

10/10

Wolfs Crossing Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

10/10

Homestead Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

9/10

Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

8/10

C I Johnson Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

8/10

Still Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

9/10

Francis Granger Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

8/10

Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy

Public

Grades 6-8

8/10

Herget Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

7/10

Bednarcik Junior High School

Public

Grades 6-8

7/10

Metea Valley High School

Public

Grades 9-12

10/10

Waubonsie Valley High School

Public

Grades 9-12

10/10

West Aurora High School

Public

Grades 9-12

4/10

East High School

Public

Grades 9-12

3/10

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Public

Grades 9-12

/10
School data provided by http://www.greatschools.org The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology Data provided by GreatSchools.org © 2026. All rights reserved.

Points of Interest

Shopping Centers

Parks and Recreation

  • SciTech
  • Phillips Park Zoo
  • Blackberry Farm
  • Red Oak Nature Center
  • Lederman Science Center at Fermilab

Commuter Rail

Military Bases

Airports

  • Chicago Midway International
  • Chicago O'Hare International

Colleges

Top Apartments in Aurora

The Aventine at Oakhurst North

The Aventine at Oakhurst North

2800 Pontiac Dr,
Aurora, IL 60502

$1,625 - $2,848

1-2 Beds

Lumen Fox Valley

Lumen Fox Valley

4450 Fox Valley Center Dr,
Aurora, IL 60504

$1,939 - $6,006

Studio - 2 Beds

500 Station

500 Station

675 Station Blvd,
Aurora, IL 60504

$1,895 - $3,300

1-3 Beds

Arden of Warrenville

Arden of Warrenville

28294 Ferry Rd,
Warrenville, IL 60555

$1,899 - $4,815

1-4 Beds

Arbors of Brookdale

Arbors of Brookdale

1373 Ivy Ln,
Naperville, IL 60563

$2,030 - $2,925

1-3 Beds

Grand Reserve of Naperville

Grand Reserve of Naperville

504 Chamberlain Ln,
Naperville, IL 60540

$1,805 - $3,210

1-2 Beds

Haven on Long Grove

Haven on Long Grove

826 Terrace Lake Dr,
Aurora, IL 60504

$1,624 - $2,562 Total Monthly Price

1-2 Beds

Fox Valley Villages

Fox Valley Villages

710 S Eola Rd,
Aurora, IL 60504

$1,670 - $2,585 Total Monthly Price

1-2 Beds

Redwood Aurora

Redwood Aurora

1241 Coffeeberry Ln,
Aurora, IL 60506

$2,408 - $3,646

2 Beds

Houses for Rent in Aurora

1982 Conway Ln

1982 Conway Ln,
Aurora, IL 60503

$3,050 Total Monthly Price

3 Beds | 2.5 Baths

2409 Courtyard Cir

2409 Courtyard Cir,
Aurora, IL 60506

$2,695 Total Monthly Price

3 Beds | 2.5 Baths

2417 Deerfield Dr

2417 Deerfield Dr,
Aurora, IL 60506

$2,590 Total Monthly Price

3 Beds | 2.5 Baths

2990 Waters Edge Cir

2990 Waters Edge Cir,
Aurora, IL 60504

$2,685 Total Monthly Price

3 Beds | 2 Baths

76 N 4th St

76 N 4th St,
Aurora, IL 60505

$2,900 Total Monthly Price

3 Beds | 3 Baths | 12 Month Lease

1860 Fescue Dr

1860 Fescue Dr,
Aurora, IL 60504

$2,600 Total Monthly Price

3 Beds | 3 Baths | 12 Month Lease

View More Houses for Rent in Aurora

Property Management Companies in Aurora, IL

AMC

  • 625

    Communities

  • 125,220

    Units

  • 245

    Cities

5 Communities in Aurora
Willow Bridge

  • 715

    Communities

  • 198,674

    Units

  • 340

    Cities

4 Communities in Aurora
BH

  • 292

    Communities

  • 85,901

    Units

  • 169

    Cities

4 Communities in Aurora
Marquette Management

  • 18

    Communities

  • 6,806

    Units

  • 18

    Cities

3 Communities in Aurora
Atlantic Residential

  • 21

    Communities

  • 5,734

    Units

  • 17

    Cities

3 Communities in Aurora
Greystar

  • 3,490

    Communities

  • 959,772

    Units

  • 895

    Cities

2 Communities in Aurora

Living in Aurora

Transportation

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If you work in Chicago but the city isn't a good fit for your family, budget, or lifestyle, Aurora might be the perfect solution for you. That's because commuting takes as much effort as it would in the city itself; Aurora is the westernmost point -- and first morning stop -- on the BNSF Metra Line to Chicago's Union Station. The Aurora Metra Station on Broadway opens at 4:30 AM on weekdays, when early risers can board one of the morning's first two direct routes to the Windy City, but you'll have to wait until 8:30 AM to start catching trains with room for bikes. Even weekend routes start at 5:10 AM, and they all allow bikes, so you can enjoy full days in the city or another suburb during your down time.

For residents who need easy access to the surrounding counties and more rural parts of the state, Illinois 31 (Illinois Route 31) runs parallel to the Fox River and stretches all the way from Oswego to Wisconsin. You can use this road, which turns into Lake Street and River Street downtown, to get directly to Geneva, Elgin, Batavia, McHenry, or Algonquin. It also intersects with I-88, giving you two routes into the city that are both less than fifty miles. However, the Metra's hour-long morning routes are almost always a better bet.

Shopping

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Downtown Aurora's cafes, antiques, and boutiques are still steeped in history and designed to encourage small business growth with an intimate sense of community. Culture Stock Bookstore is community group L.I.F.T. Aurora's passion project, and it's your best source for vinyl, used books, and even live poetry readings and open mic nights. Several small jewelry boutiques line Broadway, giving local artists a place to share their handmade wares.

On the East Side, thrifty shoppers travel hours from every direction to take advantage of Aurora's main shopping attraction, the Chicago Premium Outlets. This world-class savings mecca is full of unbelievable deals on clothes, shoes, and accessories from the most in-demand designers and department stores.

Fox Valley is the best neighborhood if you're in the mood for a full day of indoor, high-end shopping. As New York Street turns into Aurora Avenue just before Naperville, you'll reach the neighborhood's namesake: the former Fox Valley Mall (now Westfield Shoppingtown at Fox Valley). This gigantic shopping center has 157 stores, including all the usual mall staples and a few designer boutiques.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.