Kane · DuPage · Kendall · Will County · Illinois
Aurora, IL
Illinois' second-largest city — the original 'City of Lights', where the restored Paramount Theatre, the Fox River, four school districts and 175+ parks meet a remarkably affordable housing market.
About the city
What makes Aurora, Aurora
Aurora sits 40 miles west of downtown Chicago, straddling the Fox River where it crosses four counties. Founded in 1834 and famous for installing the first all-electric streetlight system in the United States in 1881, Aurora earned the lasting nickname "City of Lights" (aurora-il.org).
Today it is the second-largest city in Illinois (180,710 residents per the 2020 Census) and one of the most diverse — by population, by housing stock, and by school district. The downtown riverfront has been transformed over the last two decades, anchored by the restored Paramount Theatre, RiverEdge Park amphitheater, Hollywood Casino, and an expanding entertainment district along the Fox.
For buyers, Aurora is a rare combination: big-city amenities, four-county school choice, a true historic downtown, and home prices that remain materially below the Chicago metro average. New-construction subdivisions on the far east side rub shoulders with century-old Queen Annes on Stolp Island.
Recognition
Why Aurora stands out
The facts that show up on relocation shortlists.
#2
Largest City in Illinois
2020 Census · 180,710 residents
1881
City of Lights
First all-electric streetlight system in the U.S.
#1
Non-NYC Subscription Theater
Paramount Theatre Broadway Series
175+
Parks & Open Spaces
Fox Valley Park District + City of Aurora
By the numbers
Demographics & economy
Population
180,710
U.S. Census 2020 · 2nd largest city in Illinois
Median household income
$77,400
ACS 2020-2024
Median home value
$245,200
ACS 2020-2024 owner-occupied
Bachelor's degree or higher
31.8%
Census QuickFacts · adults 25+
Owner-occupied homes
69.7%
Census QuickFacts
Median age
33.4
ACS 2024
Aurora skews younger than the U.S. median of 39.0 — a true young-family city.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · Census Reporter · City of Aurora.
Schools & parks
Four districts, four high schools, 175+ parks
Districts serving Aurora
SD 129 · 131 · 204 · 308
60,000+
Total students
80+
Schools
4
Public high schools
Because Aurora sprawls across four counties, it is uniquely served by four large public school districts. Indian Prairie SD 204 (ipsd.org) and West Aurora SD 129 (sd129.org) consistently earn top marks statewide; East Aurora SD 131 (d131.org) and Oswego SD 308 (sd308.org) round out the city's coverage.
High schools, ranked
U.S. News 2024 →After graduation
Where Aurora grads go
Strong pipelines into Illinois publics and the Big Ten (Illinois Report Card)
Aurora grads land at flagship Illinois universities, regional Big Ten schools, and the city's own Aurora University and Waubonsee Community College for in-town and transfer paths.
Photo gallery
A walk around the city
Paramount Theatre
Restored 1931 Spanish Revival landmark — the highest-grossing non-NYC subscription theater in the country, with a year-round Broadway Series.
Visit site →
Phillips Park
325-acre flagship park with a free zoo, the iconic Sunken Garden, mastodon museum, aquatic center and 18-hole municipal golf course.
Visit site →
RiverEdge Park
Outdoor amphitheater on the Fox River — host to Blues on the Fox and the summer concert season programmed by the Paramount.
Visit site →
Fox River Trail
45+ miles of paved trail along the Fox — Aurora is the central hub, connecting Oswego south to Algonquin north.
Visit site →
Blackberry Farm
Living-history pioneer village — restored farmhouses, working blacksmith, train rides, pony rides and one of the best family days in Kane County.
Visit site →
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Riverboat-turned-land-based casino downtown — gaming, dining and a major piece of the city's entertainment district on the Fox.
Visit site →
Photography is illustrative. For visitor information, please follow the linked official sites.
Location
Where Aurora sits on the map
Aurora, IL — public high schools serving the city
- West Aurora High SchoolDistrict 129 · 1201 W New York St, Aurora, IL 6050641.7615° N, 88.3471° W
- East Aurora High SchoolDistrict 131 · 500 Tomcat Ln, Aurora, IL 6050541.7456° N, 88.2920° W
- Metea Valley High SchoolDistrict 204 · 1801 N Eola Rd, Aurora, IL 6050241.8021° N, 88.2375° W
- Waubonsie Valley High SchoolDistrict 204 · 2590 Ogden Ave, Aurora, IL 6050441.7588° N, 88.2353° W
Interactive map loads when JavaScript is available.
Stylized city outline with the four public high schools serving Aurora (D129, D131, D204) pinned. Coordinates approximate; for turn-by-turn directions view in OpenStreetMap.
Climate
A comfortable four-season city
Aurora enjoys a classic Midwest climate. Summers are warm and ideal for RiverEdge concerts and Fox River paddles. Autumns are crisp and golden along Stolp Avenue. Winters bring postcard snowfalls that the Winter Lights Festival turns into a million bulbs along the river. Springs are gentle and green — perfect for the Sunken Garden tulips at Phillips Park.
84°
Summer High
14°
Winter Low
39"
Annual Rain
34"
Annual Snow
Temperature (°F)
Precipitation (inches)
Approximated from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals at the Aurora Municipal Airport (KARR) station (NOAA NCEI). Annual total: ~39 in of rain and ~34 in of snow.
Year-round
A city for all four seasons
Spring
Phillips Park's sunken garden bursts into tulips, the Fox River Trail comes alive with riders, and the Paramount Theatre's Broadway Series hits its spring crescendo.
Summer
RiverEdge Park hosts headliner concerts on the Fox, Blues on the Fox kicks off festival season, and Blackberry Farm's pioneer village runs all summer.
Fall
Stolp Avenue glows under the Paramount marquee, Red Oak Nature Center lights up with color, and the Fox Valley Folk Music Festival fills the riverfront.
Winter
Winter Lights Festival drapes the riverfront in a million bulbs — fitting for the original 'City of Lights' — while the Paramount packs in holiday hits.
Culture
Libraries, museums & arts
Aurora Public Library District
Three branches anchored by the modern Santori Public Library downtown — maker spaces, recording studio, and one of the busiest library districts in Illinois.
Paramount School of the Arts
Year-round classes in theater, dance, music and visual arts for all ages — part of the Paramount campus on Stolp Island.
SciTech Hands On Museum
Children's science museum in a restored post-office building downtown — 200+ interactive exhibits.
Aurora Historical Society
Local-history museum and archives in the David L. Pierce Art and History Center.
Getting around
Roads, Metra & commuting
Western terminus of the BNSF line — express trains to Chicago Union Station in ~55 minutes.
The busiest single-station boarding location in the Metra system — far-east commuter hub.
I-88 (Reagan Memorial Tollway)
Northern boundary — direct shot east to Naperville, Oak Brook and downtown Chicago.
I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway)
Eastern connector to I-80 and I-55, plus the southern suburbs.
Routes 25, 31, 56, 59, 30, 34
Dense network of state highways — the city is unusually well-connected by road.
Pace bus · Aurora Transportation Center
Local fixed-route service and the city's main multi-modal transit hub.
Dining
Restaurants, bars & local favorites
Stolp Island Social
Modern American · downtown
Two Brothers Roundhouse
Brewpub · historic train station
Endiro Coffee
Coffee · East African-inspired
Gillerson's Grubbery
Bar food · craft beer
Mio Modo
Wood-fired pizza · Italian
La Quinta de los Reyes
Mexican · downtown landmark
See more on the Downtown Aurora dining directory.
Economy
Top employers & corporations
Rush Copley Medical Center
~2,500 employees · regional hospital
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Gaming & hospitality
School District U-46 / SD 129 / SD 131 / SD 204
Combined ~8,000+ educators serving the city
City of Aurora
~1,400 municipal employees
Caterpillar Inc.
Aurora plant — large mining-equipment manufacturing
Aurora University
4-year private university downtown
Cabela's / Bass Pro Shops
Regional outdoor-retail destination
Dreyer Medical Clinic (Advocate Health)
Multi-site clinic network founded in Aurora
Source: City of Aurora, Invest Aurora.
What's new
Real-estate developments to watch
Stolp Island Theatre & redevelopment
New 200-seat black-box performance space and surrounding mixed-use development reshaping Stolp Island in the heart of downtown.
RiverEdge Park expansion
Phased expansion of the riverfront amphitheater campus — new public space, paths, and event infrastructure along the Fox.
Aurora Arts & Entertainment District
City-led redevelopment incentives along the Fox River corridor — converting historic buildings into lofts, galleries and restaurants.
Far East Side master-planned communities
Continued new construction in the I-88/Route 59 corridor — Eola, Stonebridge and Liberty subdivisions priced from the $400s.
Just for fun
Aurora fun facts
- ★Aurora was the first U.S. city with an all-electric streetlight system (1881) — earning its nickname, the 'City of Lights'.
- ★Aurora is Illinois' 2nd largest city, behind only Chicago.
- ★Mastodon bones discovered at Phillips Park in 1934 are now displayed in the park's Mastodon Gallery.
- ★The Paramount Theatre (1931) is the highest-grossing non-NYC subscription theater in the U.S.
- ★Aurora spans four counties — Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will — more than any other Illinois city.
- ★The Roundhouse, home to Two Brothers Brewing, is the oldest existing limestone roundhouse in the United States.
Considering Aurora?
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