Aurora is Colorado’s third-largest city, with a population of more than 345,000. The city covers 155 square miles and is considered the “Gateway to the Rockies”. What surprises people about Colorado is that people actually have an active lifestyle despite its high altitude and relaxing parks.
That’s what makes Aurora such an in-demand destination for individuals and families, whether they’re making an in-country move within the United States or an international relocation from overseas.
If you’re planning to move to Aurora, CO, we have 14 tips that can entice you to relocate or help you with your move. Once you’re ready, work with one of Sanelo’s dedicated relocation experts to get started!
1. Don’t Overprepare For The Seasons
The weather in Aurora is mild and not too extreme. Despite its altitude, you won’t get extremely hot or cold weather while experiencing all four seasons. Aurora only gets as hot as 31 °C in July, while temperatures hover between 28 to 31 °C from June to September.
You won’t need the latest cooling technology to get you through the summer heat. You can get by with that decade-old cotton shirt that, for some reason, is more comfortable than anything you’ve ever worn.
Aurora’s Coldest months are December to February when temperatures go between -6 to -8 °C . Although temperatures hover anywhere between these numbers, extreme lows of -22 to -36 °C have been recorded, so having a few winter jackets at the back of your closet won’t be the worst idea.
Another thing to note is that Aurora gets 300 days of sunlight per year. The USA’s average is only 205 days of sunlight per year. This is great news if you are transitioning from a more tropical country. Great for vitamin D and outdoor activities!
2. Follow These To Adjust To The Altitude…
Aurora’s official elevation is 1,647 metres, making it amongst the highest cities in the USA. Most people coming from sea-level areas will feel some symptoms at around 2,500 metres. Even though Aurora isn’t at that elevation, it’s best to be ready in case you travel further up the mountains.
The common symptoms of altitude sickness are very similar to a bad hangover after a heavy night of drinking with your friends. These may include headaches, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. Here are some ways for you to better adjust to Aurora’s altitude.
Stay Hydrated And Replenish Your Electrolytes
Just like a hangover, you need electrolytes and fluids to cope. Bring and drink more water than usual on your way to Aurora, as the fluids will help your body acclimate. Aurora’s low humidity keeps the air dry, making it another factor to drink more fluids.
Food rich in electrolytes, such as broccoli, bananas, avocado, celery, greens, bran, granola, and potatoes, will help replenish electrolytes. In your first few weeks, incorporate these products into your meals to help your body with the change in altitude.
Monitor Your Alcohol Intake
Imagine a gruff mountaineer living in a snow cabin. You probably imagine him chopping logs for firewood and drinking alcohol in an aluminium mug. It turns out alcohol hits harder at high altitudes and dehydrates you, which is bad for acclimating.
Take A Few Days To Acclimate
You might be tempted to explore Aurora the moment you get there, but hold your excitement and take time to rest. A few days at home will help your body adjust to the new altitude, especially your lungs. Your body can usually acclimate in just a day or two, so you can go and do more exciting things right after.
Reduce Your Physical Activity
If you’re an active person, you should pace yourself in your first weeks in Aurora. Maybe you’ll be tempted to do more physical activities as most Aurora residents have an active lifestyle. Should you do strenuous activities, pace yourself. If you jog for five kilometres a day, you should reduce it to three a day.
Physical activity increases the oxygen you’d need for your body. The air also has less oxygen, pair this with increased oxygen demands from your organs, and you’d feel unease. However, you can also use this as an opportunity to train.
3. …And Enjoy More Physical Activities After
While we’re on the topic of altitude and activity, let’s talk about how most Aurora residents love outdoor recreational activities. When moving to Aurora, CO, you’ll notice groups of people biking, walking around the park, and heading to golf.
Join Biking Events
According to the League of American Bicyclists, Colorado has more gold and platinum-rated bicycle communities than any other state. Hundreds of events are held in Aurora and Colorado, such as Ride the Rockies, Colorado Eagle River Ride, and West Elk Bicycle Classic. You can easily find biking events through Meetup.
Aurora has 60 miles (96.5 kilometres) worth of bikeable trails. One recommended route for an afternoon ride is one that goes to the Aurora Reservoir from the Southlands Mall. Then you circle the lake, maybe stop for a snack, and be back before nightfall.
Try Golf At Least Once
There are 11 championship golf courses in Aurora alone. Six of these are owned exclusively and operated by the City of Aurora. It would come naturally that a place with such a high elevation will have excellent golf courses. Murphy Creek Golf Course is named in Golf Digest’s Top Public Golf Courses. If you’re not into playing golf, at least try it once. Who knows, you might be playing golf with some champions.
Pick A Jogging Area
Aurora has over 7,000 acres of open space and trails, two reservoirs, and more than 97 parks. You could go for something as casual as an afternoon walk or something as intensive as a five-kilometre jog. Don’t worry if you won’t find jogging groups yet, as you can find many people jogging in parks to keep you company.
4. Make A Relocation Checklist
Okay, now, if you have decided to move to Northwest Aurora or anywhere in Aurora, you should pick the right things to pack and make a checklist. Aside from packing important documents like your passport, days before your trip, check the weather to pack appropriately.
Though we mentioned that Aurora doesn’t have extreme highs and lows in temperature, you still need to determine the weather. During the daytime, it actually feels warmer than the actual temperature, and it becomes chilly after sundown, during which it’s best to layer your clothing.
Plus, you might want to pack some lip balm to prepare for the the low humidity giving you cracked lips!
Don’t worry, you don’t have to build your checklist alone! We offer useful moving resources to help get you started, plus a comprehensive pre-move consultation and home survey to create an inventory of everything you’ll have to bring.
5. Plan Your Visits To Attractions
One way to know the place you’re in is to immerse in its culture and history. After acclimatising, exploring Aurora’s trails, or maybe after golfing, you might want to visit some attractions. Even before moving, you should have a list of places you’d want to visit. It’s harder to plan your visits if you’re overwhelmed by the excitement of a new environment, as you’d want to visit every attraction possible.
Check the government website, as they have an events calendar if you want to visit the Aurora History Museum. If you want to go to the theatre, Aurora Fox Arts Center is perfect for this. And definitely check when the Aurora Symphony Orchestra is performing.
While biking, you can pass by the 16-block area, the Aurora Cultural Arts District; they regularly have exhibits on display. As a cyclist, you don’t have to pay a fee to enter Cherry Creek State Park if you plan on visiting the park.
6. Familiarise Yourself With How To Get Around Aurora
We already talked about the “where” in terms of places to go; now let’s talk about the “how”. You might think that due to Aurora’s altitude, it would be hard to have a railway system. If you were moving to Aurora, let’s say in 2012, we would have a completely different conversation. Thankfully, it’s past 2017, as Aurora now has two railways.
Aurora has the R Line and the A Line which was formerly the University of Colorado A Line. The R Line takes you from Denver through the heart of Aurora. The I-Line opened on February 24, 2017, making it easier for you to get to the Denver International Airport or the Denver Tech Center.
On the other hand, the A Line grants access to I-17, Denver’s interstate highway, along with the many communities along the way. This commuter line operates between Denver and Aurora, granting quick access to Denver International Airport. The railroad project has been proposed since the 1980s but was only approved in November 2004. There’s something to think about during your relaxing train rides from Denver to Aurora.
7. Don’t Be Scared To Start Your Career
Maybe you’re moving to Aurora for work-related reasons or just moving to Aurora, CO, for a fresh start. Either way, don’t be scared to start your career and find new opportunities. People who have been living in Aurora are enjoying its consistent job growth.
Aurora’s recent job growth is rated at 2.8%, which is almost double the national average of 1.6%. While future job growth is 42.% versus the national average of 33.5%, giving assurance for your prospective new career. Aurora is also home to some Fortune 500 companies, such as Anadarko Petroleum, DaVita HealthCare Partners, and DISH Network. Giving you options on which type of job you’d venture into.
If you’re in the healthcare sector, be sure to update your CV or resume, as two of Aurora’s three major employers are Kaiser Permanente and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Raytheon Technologies is there if you’re into the science and technology sector, specifically in defence systems. In case you’re another scientific genius in the making, our world needs more of you!
The Aurora Economic Development Council mentions that you have an 80% chance of finding a job from these employers.
Aurora is considered a business hub in the Denver region, which means that the city is economically stable and finding a job is easy. If you want to set up your own business and enjoy the economic growth others have been enjoying, business is also booming.
8. Don’t Worry About Tax Rates
Right after talking about the possible occupations, let’s talk about the median household income to give you an idea of how much people do earn on average. Aurora has a median household income of 67,000 USD.
Maybe you’d think that the high job growth rate or the high future job growth would affect taxes, and maybe it would be higher than the national average. Income tax in Aurora is just on par with the average in the USA. Aurora has an income tax of 4.7% versus 4.6% of the national average.
9. Taste Aurora’s Craft Beer
Okay, I’m not going to lie; we probably sound like we’re contradicting our previous statements on alcohol consumption. However, Aurora is home to some incredible breweries and taprooms, as brewing is a lifestyle in Aurora. They have some high-quality microbreweries like the Dry Dock Brewing Company, the first brewery to open in Aurora.
Engage and experience Aurora’s craft culture one sip at a time. Try some of Aurora’s experimental flavours and other award-winning brews that made the state the craft beer capital. Enjoy more themed breweries, such as the Pilothouse Brewing Company, which is nautical-themed, or Launch Pad Brewery, which has a rocket-themed taproom.
But to remind you, only enjoy Aurora’s craft culture after you acclimatise. Make sure you know how much alcohol you can handle, considering the altitude.
10. Aurora Ranks High In Diversity
This entry is not a tip but a generally wonderful thing to discuss. Aurora city ranks as one of the most diverse cities in the USA. Based on the Census Bureau, Aurora’s diversity index is 69.20, more than 10 points over the national average of 58.69. You might say this might be true for the whole state of Colorado, but Denver only has a diversity index of 60.90, while Colorado Springs has 50.00.
Aurora is a majority-minority city where racial minorities make up most of the population. It would be easy for you to find people who can relate to your moving experience or maybe find people of the same nationality.
One great thing about this is that it isn’t only because the residents are children of other immigrants, as Aurora has a birthplace diversity index of 67.20, while the national average is 58.69. This means that there is a huge diversity of residents who were born in different countries. This creates a culture of acceptance in the workplace, school, and the city in general.
11. Find A School In Cherry Creek School District
Diversity makes the school environment healthy and conducive to learning, and you are reassured that the curriculum isn’t for a specific ethnicity. This makes for an excellent learning environment for your child.
It’s easy to find a school in Aurora due to the Cherry Creek School District, which spans 108 square miles and serves Aurora and other Colorado cities. There are many schools to choose from in this area, making it perfect for your children.
The student-teacher ratio is 16 to 1, meaning that most schools aren’t overcrowded. State scores also indicated that 44% of their students are proficient in maths and 53% in reading. The school district is also one of the top school districts for athletes, making it easier to get a scholarship for a selected sport.
12. Get To Know Their Highly-Rated Medical Facilities
Aurora is also home to two highly-rated medical schools. Excellent medical schools improve healthcare-related services in the area as it raises the standards of practice. Aurora is home to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where around 4,700 students attend the school to learn about medicine, nursing, and all fields of medicine.
The other top hospital in the area is the University of Colorado Hospital, mentioned in the 2017-2018 US News and World Report Honour Roll. You can also expect excellent medical care at the Children’s Hospital Colorado, as they often receive national accolades each time they raise their medical practice standards.
Once you arrange for health insurance, it will be important to enrol with a nearby primary care physician and find the specialists you need to care for yourself or your family.
13. Enjoy The Benefits Of Low Utility Bills
The cost of living in Aurora is 15% lower than the national average for utilities like energy bills, phone bills, or gas. Even though you shouldn’t overspend on seasonal clothing, you can be less strict with appliance use as bills are cheaper there.
On top of that, Groceries are 6% lower than the national average. A loaf of bread will cost you 3.27 USD on average, and a gallon of milk would be 2.09 USD, while a carton of eggs would be around 1.48 USD. You’d think that with all the booming business and job growth in Aurora, prices on groceries would be high.
On the other hand, healthcare is the same as the national average, despite having two highly-rated medical schools and excellent medical facilities. A doctor’s visit usually is around 120 USD, but you will get the best care in the country.
14. Hire A Trusted Mover
We did mention things you should pack, but also, you should contact a mover for your furniture and other belongings you just can’t lug around. Movers like Sanelo can help you relocate by transporting your precious belongings.
Sanelo offers local moving and international moving, both with a comprehensive set of moving services to cover everything from packing for your move to ocean & air freight to storage for your belongings to help you move no matter where you’re starting from. At every step of the way, you’ll be covered by best-in-class shipment protection.
Conclusion About Moving To Aurora
Moving from one place to another is stressful but exciting at the same time. One difference is if you’re from a city at sea level, you will have some time to acclimate to Aurora’s elevation. However, you won’t have problems adjusting as Aurora is one of the most diverse cities in the USA.
Aurora has numerous job opportunities; you can even start your career anew while making great friends along the way. School and healthcare are among the best in the state, while the cost of living is even slightly cheaper than the national average. We hope you find great opportunities in this city just 96 miles (154.5 kilometres) away from the rocky mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving To Aurora
Are Winters Harsh In Aurora?
No, winters don’t reach extremely cold temperatures that are considered harsh. Winters are mild, and Aurora doesn’t reach extreme hot or cold temperatures.
How High Is Aurora, CO?
Aurora’s official elevation is 1,647 metres or 5,403.5 feet. It may seem high, but it doesn’t rank among the top 30 cities in elevation.
Is Aurora A Good Place To Live?
Aurora is known for great schools, numerous outdoor recreation, top-notch health care, and countless job opportunities. It is Colorado’s third-largest and most populous city.
Are People Friendly In Aurora?
The people are friendly in Aurora, and the city is one of the most diverse cities in the USA. It has a diversity index of 69.20, 10 points higher than the national average.