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What BestPlaces Users Say about Aurora
Aurora, Illinois is a suburban city located about 40 miles west of Chicago. It has a population of over 200,000 and is known for its diverse community and strong sense of community pride. It has been ranked as one of the "Best Places to Live" by numerous publications. However, as with any city, there are varying opinions about what it's like to actually live there. In this summary, we will include excerpts from multiple user reviews of Aurora, Illinois to provide a more well-rounded understanding of the city's strengths and weaknesses.
1. "I have lived in Aurora for over 10 years and I absolutely love it! The people here are so friendly and welcoming, and there is always something fun and exciting to do. Plus, the cost of living is much more affordable compared to other nearby cities." - Emily S.
2. "While Aurora has its charms, it also has its drawbacks. The traffic can be horrendous, especially during rush hour, and the public transportation is not the best. The crime rate is also higher than I would like. However, the schools are top-notch and there's a great sense of community here." - Mark R.
3. "I've lived in Aurora for most of my life and I can honestly say it's a great place to raise a family. The parks and recreation facilities are well-maintained, and there are plenty of job opportunities. I do wish there were more diverse dining options, but overall, I'm happy to call Aurora my home." - Maria G.
4. "I recently moved to Aurora and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, there are some beautiful neighborhoods and great schools. However, the city lacks a strong downtown area and there's not much to do here for young adults. I also feel like the cost of living is higher than it should be." - Alex P.
based on 18 ReviewsGet to know Aurora with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Aurora
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traffic - 5/4/2008
What makes the quality of life here in the burbs of Chicago has got to be the traffic. The housing stock went way up with little or no upgrading of the roads to get to those
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City of Lights -- Aurora; and nearby Naperville - 8/26/2007
I live on the eastern side of Aurora, I've lived here for 7 years. The city has its mix of low income, middle income and upper income people. The city is about 45 minutes west of Chicago when there are no traffic delays. The Fox Valley Park District has some very nice programs. The Aurora Library has 3 branches and a very good selection. Lots of shopping nearby, a major mall on the far east side and an upscale outlet shopping mall on the north side. Also alot of strip malls and big box stores on the eastern border of Aurora, western border of Naperville. If you live in the Naperville school district part of Aurora, on the east side, the schools are fantastic. The Aurora district schools are not as highly rated. Crime is higher in the downtown section of Aurora than in the far east or far western sides of Aurora. Aurora is next to Naperville, named one of the best places to live by Money Magazine. Naperville and Aurora have a great selection of restaurants and Naperville also
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Recommend place to live in Aurora - 4/11/2007
I have seen some negative comments about Aurora, but I could say much the same about most larger towns.
We have lived in Aurora for nearly 4 years on the far West side and we don't have a lot of negatives about the area.
First, the East side of town near the river does have some bad areas, but that has improved dramatically. Yes there are still some gang issues, but that has gone down.
Having said that, School district 129 which is the west side of the fox river, has some very good elementary, middle schools, and a good high school. The main issue is the high school which has nearly 4,000 students.
Aurora has a large blend of minorities, I would estimate the school is about 38% white, 30% hispanic, and 30% black, and 2% other. (This is an unscientific estimate based upon what we have experienced with children at Hall Elementary, Jefferson Middel School, and West High School.
In our Neighborhood the split is
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Recommend place to live in Aurora - 4/11/2007
I have seen some negative comments about Aurora, but I could say much the same about most larger towns.
We have lived in Aurora for nearly 4 years on the far West side and we don't have a lot of negatives about the area.
First, the East side of town near the river does have some bad areas, but that has improved dramatically. Yes there are still some gang issues, but that has gone down.
Having said that, School district 129 which is the west side of the fox river, has some very good elementary, middle schools, and a good high school. The main issue is the high school which has nearly 4,000 students.
Aurora has a large blend of minorities, I would estimate the school is about 38% white, 30% hispanic, and 30% black, and 2% other. (This is an unscientific estimate based upon what we have experienced with children at Hall Elementary, Jefferson Middel School, and West High School.
In our Neighborhood the split is
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When the Lights Go Out in the City - 4/7/2007
As a long-time resident of Aurora (The City of Lights) I am sad to say that I am finally giving up and moving on. I will miss Her many beautiful old mansions in the various historic districts that are no longer safe. I will remember walking through downtown to go shopping at Carsons, when it was there. Now the signs hanging from Her classic tall buildings along Broadway are in Spanish and I cannot read them. Her schools are no longer proudly diverse, and some of their rankings have become shameful. My thanks to City government, police, and fire for their gallant efforts but they are loosing the battle. It will take more than a casino and a landmark theatre to save Her.
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Can't wait to leave. - 7/26/2006
We moved to Aurora because my husband was transfered here almost 2 loooooong years ago. I like our apartment complex. I have gone back to school and I love Aurora University. That's about it. I am begining to hear sirenes almost every night. There is not much culture to speak of. Down town is dead. You have to go to another city to find a decent place to shop.
The only really good thing is that we are surrounded by places like Brookfield Zoo, and Chicago. Other wise we'd be bored to death. Also, Aurora does have a Premium Outlets mall. It's just difficult to shop there in the winter and when there is any number of bus tours visiting the mall.
Can't wait to
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