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Fact text

  • Aurora calls itself the 'City of Lights' because back in 1881 it was one of the first U.S. cities to light its streets entirely with electricity.
  • Aurora's historic downtown was built on an island in the middle of a river because city leaders literally could not agree which riverbank should get the buildings.
  • Aurora spans four counties simultaneously, making it one of only three Illinois cities with that quirky distinction.
  • Aurora holds the Illinois state record for rainfall in a single day: a jaw-dropping 16.94 inches in just 24 hours back in 1996.
  • The city is home to over 50 Sears Catalog Homes, yes, people once ordered their entire house from a catalog.
Your
Aurora
Retirement Outlook — in 90 seconds
Hosted by Michael McMillan, President of Annuities.net
Every figure mentioned is drawn from the same sourced public data shown below — and the video updates as the data does.
Stat icon
199,326
+
Total Population
Stat icon
$
74,659
Median Income
Stat icon
$
194,100
Median Home
Stat icon
10
%
Age 65+
Retirement Suitability
How
Aurora
ranks for retirees?
52
/ 100

A blended, sourced view of how this city ranks for retirees across tax, affordability, healthcare, and climate.

Tax
8
Affordability
89
Healthcare
82
Climate
21

Results

Aurora

Suitability Breakdown

Retirement tax planning
01 - Taxes

Retirement Tax Treatment

Tax
8

Illinois does not tax Social Security benefits, which keeps that income stream intact for retirees despite the state having an income tax.

State sales tax here runs about

%.

Source · Tax Foundation
8
Retirement tax planning
02 - Income

Annuity Rates Available Here

Affordability
89

Fixed annuity rates reach up to

7

% on 5-year terms, with most landing between

5

% and

5

%.

Source · Cannex
89
Retirement tax planning
03 - Healthcare

Hospital Access & Quality

Healthcare
82

The area has

5

Medicare-certified hospitals, averaging a

4

/5 CMS quality rating.

Source · CMS Hospital Compare
4
Retirement tax planning
04 - Climate

Weather & Comfort

Climate
21

A

Cold / Snowy

climate — summers peak near

82

°F, winters dip to about

19

°F, with roughly

27

″ of snow a year.

Source · NOAA Climate Normals
Cold / Snowy
Retirement tax planning
05 - Risk

Natural Disaster Risk

Risk
Relatively High

FEMA's overall natural-disaster risk rating for this county on the National Risk Index.

Source · FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Illinois tax Social Security income for retirees in Aurora?

Illinois does not tax Social Security benefits, so that income arrives fully intact for Aurora retirees despite the state having a general income tax. This can meaningfully stretch a fixed retirement budget. If you also receive pension income, you should verify how Illinois treats that separately, as the rules differ from Social Security treatment.

How good is hospital care near Aurora, Illinois for Medicare patients?

Aurora has five Medicare-certified hospitals serving the area, and they average a 4.0 out of 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That above-average quality score suggests reasonably solid access to care for retirees, though individuals should still confirm that specific providers accept their Medicare plan before relocating.

Is housing affordable for someone retiring in Aurora, IL?

Aurora’s median home value is about $194,100, which is notably lower than many major metro areas. With a median household income of $74,659, the price-to-income ratio is relatively manageable. That combination can make it easier for retirees on fixed incomes to maintain homeownership without stretching their budgets too thin.

What natural disaster risks should retirees consider before moving to Aurora?

How can Aurora retirees get predictable growth without worrying about market swings?

Aurora’s median household income of $74,659 means many local retirees are working with modest but meaningful savings. A multi-year guaranteed annuity, or MYGA, locks in a fixed interest rate for a set term — often two to ten years — so your growth is predictable regardless of market swings. That stability can help cover essential expenses alongside Social Security, which Illinois does not tax. Because guaranteed rates change often, check our current annuity rates page for today’s figures.

Check Current Rates