This IL City Was Named 'Second-Best City In America To Move To'

AURORA, IL — Illinois's second-largest city delivers a "lifestyle balance" that Chicago can't match, found a new study, which ranked Aurora as the second-best city to move to in 2025.

MRI Software, a real estate software, released its Move-In Magnet Index earlier in December, analyzing job opportunities, cost of living and safety data to find "hidden hotspots where people are finding better balance, booming economies, and space to breathe."

"This year's Index shows a clear shift toward smaller, safer, and more affordable cities," Cederick Johnson, of MRI Software, said in a statement. "Places like Nashua, Dover, and Aurora are thriving because they offer more than economic opportunity; they deliver a lifestyle balance that major metros can't match."

Aurora tailed Nashua, New Hampshire, in the report. Cleveland, Ohio; Dover, Delaware; and Salt Lake City, Utah, rounded out the top five cities in the report.

See MRI's data about Aurora:

• No. of jobs available: 68,443
• No. of jobs available weighed by population: 0.385
• Cost of living score out of 100: 57.27
• Safety score out of 100: 58.44

The number of jobs available in Aurora was the highest among the top five, with 66,342 in Nashua and 42,490 in Cleveland. It also boasts one of the lowest costs of living in the ranking.

"The Chicago suburb continues to attract attention from those seeking urban access without Chicago's price tag, maintaining strong employment and community safety credentials," MRI said of Aurora.

MRI used Indeed job listings to measure the number of active roles per city and Numbeo indices to provide detailed cost of living and safety scores, according to City of Aurora officials.

"Aurora is a vibrant, diverse city with a reputable education system where all are welcome," Mayor John Laesch said. "We are honored to receive this distinction, and I will continue to work hard to make Aurora a more affordable place for working families to call home."