Why You’ll Love Living in Aurora, CO
Aurora offers an appealing array of opportunities spanning work, leisure, education, and more. Here are seven great reasons to make the move to Aurora:
1. Solid employment outlook
A well-educated workforce enjoys steady growth in high-paying jobs. Aurora’s 3.3% unemployment rate is significantly below the 3.7% national average. Technical occupations and healthcare drive much of the demand. Healthcare professionals advance their careers at the Anschutz Medical Center, the region’s largest academic medical center. The highly-ranked Children’s Hospital Colorado also maintains a major presence in Aurora.
The slogan “A Mile Closer to Space” derives from Aurora’s mile-high elevation and thriving aerospace industry. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon all maintain a significant presence in the area. Buckley Space Force Base is on Aurora’s west side.
2. Abundant recreational activities
While the Rockies and downtown Denver offer their unique allure, there are many local attractions as well. Trails abound for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Piney Creek Trail is a 16.4-mile out-and-back path frequented by runners and hikers.
Cherry Creek State Park offers a sprawling, hundred-acre dog park. Nature enthusiasts flock to the wildlife sanctuary. The reservoir offers swimming, boating, and fishing. Paddleboarding, kayaking, and jet skiing are all possible when the boating season begins on April 1. Amenities at the 31,000-acre Aurora Reservoir include a beach and swim area along with paddleboarding and kayaking. Anglers seek out popular species like trout, walleye, and catfish.
Expo Park offers a disc golf course, a skate park, and four tennis courts. The Pond Ice Rink at Southlands Mall is open from November to February. The City of Aurora maintains five public golf courses, from championship to Par-3 executive layouts.
3. Inspiring culture and history
You’ll find the Aurora Fox Arts Center in a repurposed movie palace built right after World War II. Patrons enter via the Art Moderne entrance beneath the 60-foot neon sign. The schedule includes a mix of live theater, concerts, dance, and more. Meanwhile, the Vintage Theater includes both plays and musicals on its schedule.
The Plains Conservation Center consists of 1,100 acres of short-grass prairie. It includes both a tipi camp and a homestead village, giving visitors a glimpse of 19th-century life across the high plains. The 158-acre DeLaney Farm Historic District includes farm buildings dating to as early as 1866. The DeLaney Round Barn is the highlight of many a visit.
4. Restaurants, microbreweries, and more
In 2022, Annette chef and owner Caroline Glover became the city’s first James Beard award winner. The award was for the best chef in the five-state mountain region, no less. Aurora is awash with many other wonderful places to dine, including more than 250 ethnic eateries. Savor authentic Cuban dishes and pastries at Cuba Bakery and Cafe. Peruse the menu of Vietnamese dishes at Golden Saigon. If you’re thinking of Thai food, consider Pearl of Siam. Cafe Paprika offers Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine.
Experience the fine art of craft brewing at Dry Dock Brewing and Launch Pad Brewery. From Friday through Sunday, Cerebral Brewing maintains a pop-up taproom in the Aurora Arts District. For a change of pace, try the carbonated concoctions at Haykin Family Cider.
5. Quality educational opportunities
Aurora’s 63 public schools include Aurora Quest K-8. It enjoys a top-ten ranking among the state’s elementary and middle schools. Other top schools include Indian Ridge Elementary, Coyote Hills Elementary, and Murphy Creek K-8. Grandview High School ranks 22nd among Denver-area high schools.
College-bound students will find 34 schools within a 50-mile radius. The Community College of Aurora educates aspiring healthcare professionals. Altogether, it offers more than 60 degrees and certifications.
6. Rich tapestry of people and places
Diversity is one of Aurora’s key strengths. There are residents with roots in more than 130 countries. Collectively, Aurora students speak more than 160 languages. Sperling’s Best Places ranked the Denver-Aurora metro area third on its list of “America’s Most Playful Cities.”
Aurora offers a multitude of architectural traditions spanning the centuries. As one commentator put it, “Aurora, Colorado, is a city where the past and present collide in a beautiful symphony of architectural styles.”
7. Excellent transportation network
RTD-Denver connects Aurora to the greater metro area via the R Line Light Rail and the RTD bus system. I-225 connects Aurora to I-70 to the north and I-25 to the west. To the east, E-470 is a 47-mile semi-circular beltway enhancing access to Denver International Airport.
Luxury Apartment Living in Aurora
Tempo Nine Mile is a community of 255 luxury apartment residences currently under development in Aurora. The location at Parker Road and Peoria Street offers easy access to the RTD’s Nine Mile Station. Outdoor amenities include a large outdoor pool, rooftop party deck, and onsite dog park. Indoors, residents will enjoy access to a state-of-the-art fitness center, bike room, and pet washroom. Apartments feature plank-style flooring, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, and private patios/balconies.
Draper and Kramer is a full-service real estate firm founded in 1893. We manage luxury apartment communities from Chicago’s Gold Coast to Arizona’s Valley of the Sun. We invite you to browse our collection of properties in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Colorado, and Arizona.
