Aurora, IL vs Chicago, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Aurora, IL by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $15,301, a 126% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Aurora, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 87/100 (grade A) against 61/100 (grade C) for Chicago, IL — a 26-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Aurora, IL carries the lighter load at $489 per resident versus $977 for Chicago, IL. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Aurora, IL leads with parks and recreation at $494 per resident, while Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 5% of total revenue in Aurora, IL and 100% in Chicago, IL.
Summary
Chicago spends 55.7% more per capita than Aurora ($19,250/person difference). Aurora, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $26 |
| Sales Tax | $114 | $74 |
| Income Tax | $144 | $229 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,481 | $85,083 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,224 | $2,847 |
| Other | $1,114 | $3,463 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $216 | $10,754 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $930 |
| Public Welfare | $922 | $1,858 |
| Health | $0 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $257 | $1,444 |
| Parks & Recreation | $494 | $122 |
| Housing | $4,836 | $6,520 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $129 |
| Utilities | $2,366 | $2,983 |
| Other | $6,210 | $9,385 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.