Unless you live in the area, you might not be familiar with all of Denver’s suburbs. Moving to Aurora CO a large suburb located on the east side of Denver – could be a smart move if you want to live somewhere with award-winning public safety, beautiful parks and recreation, lots of open spaces, and access to year-round educational events and community activities. Thanks to the low cost of living, income equality and abundance of high tech jobs found here, NerdWallet.com has named Aurora America’s “Best Large City for Women in the Workforce.” More people are deciding Aurora is the city for them. After all, it has more than quadrupled in size since 1970 and is currently home to about 340,000 people. Do you think Aurora could be the city for you? Learn more about moving to this Denver suburb to make the process as stress-free as possible.
Best Times of Year to Buy a Home in Aurora CO
Most people move in the summer since it’s between school years and the weather is more predictable. Of course, if you choose to move during the “busy season,” you could face more competition trying to find the home of your dreams. To help you snag a home at a better price and avoid competition, consider moving to Aurora CO in the winter. Sellers who list their homes this time of year usually want to sell quickly. Since they realize winter is considered the “off season” to move, you’re more likely to get a good deal house hunting this time of year.
Aurora CO Taxes
The taxes you pay after moving to Aurora CO are quite standard across the country, but the rates vary from state to state and even city to city. Here’s what you can expect:
- The cost to register your car in Colorado depends on your vehicle’s value, age, purchase date and type of license plate. If you purchased your car in another state and already paid sales tax on it, you may still owe use tax if the sales tax was a lower rate than it is in Aurora.
- Colorado has a base sales tax rate of 2.9%. The City of Aurora adds 3.75%, RTD adds 1%, and the Cultural Facilities District adds another .1%. Since Aurora is spread over three counties – Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas – the exact sales tax rate could be 8.0%, 8.5% or 8.75% depending on where you shop.
- Property taxes are also required once you move to Aurora. In Colorado, the assessed value of your home is defined as 7.96% of your home’s actual value. On top of this rate, a small mill levy is added to arrive at the amount you actually owe in property taxes.
The Moving-in Process
You’ll need to hook up your utilities after moving to Aurora CO. The faster you complete this step, the sooner you can get back to life as usual. Your options for utility providers in Aurora include the following:
- Xcel Energy provides natural gas and electricity to most Aurora residents.
- Trash pickup is not a city-provided service. This means you must arrange for service with a licensed company, such as Lies Waste Systems, Packman Disposal, Republic Services or Waste Management.
- Aurora Water provides sewer and stormwater services to the city.
- A number of private providers offer phone, internet and cable TV services, including Comcast, DirecTV, CenturyLink, Verizon and Charter Communication.
Driver’s License and Registration
Once settled in your new home, it’s time to get a Colorado driver’s license and plates for your car. After living in Aurora for 90 consecutive days, you’re considered a resident. You have 30 days after becoming a resident to update your out-of-state driver’s license and 90 days to register your car. To get a Colorado driver’s license:
- Visit a local DMV. Surrender your out-of-state license and pay the $25 new-license fee.
- Bring proof of your current Colorado address, such as a utility bill or pay stub.
- Bring proof of lawful US residency, such as a birth certificate or immigration document.
- Bring your Social Security card.
- Take the vision exam, have your fingerprint and photo taken, and provide a signature.
- Take your temporary license home with you. A permanent license will arrive in the mail within 30 days.
- To register your vehicle:
- Visit a local DMV. Pay the registration fee, which varies depending on the value of your car.
- Bring your vehicle identification number (VIN), car insurance card and emissions test results.
- Bring the vehicle’s title or out-of-state registration certificate.
- Bring a driver’s license, passport or military ID for personal identification.
- You’ll receive new license plates and stickers on the spot. In Colorado, vehicle registration is valid for 12 months.
Register to Vote in Colorado
Online registration is the easiest way to register to vote. However, you can only complete the process online with a Colorado driver’s license. If you don’t have time to get your new license before an important upcoming election, you can also register to vote by mail, e-mail, fax or in person using an out-of-state license.
Helpful Tips When Moving to Aurora CO
- Transportation: Aurora offers great transportation opportunities. You can drive on I-70, I-225 or E-470 to travel to surrounding cities or take the light rail transit system. Bus routes within the city also offer transportation for anyone living in Aurora without a car.
- Climate: The high elevation is a unique characteristic of Aurora’s climate. The city is sunny a majority of the year and has a semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters.
