City Comparison
Boulder vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Boulder
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
39% lower than in Boulder.
Housing costs are a major driver: Boulder's average rent is
16% higher than Centennial's.
| Metric | Boulder | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,395 | $2,063 | +16% |
| Groceries | $450 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $3,395 | $2,063 | +65% |
| Cost Index | 128 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 53% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Boulder | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $87,493 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Boulder runs warmer on average — a 50.5°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Boulder comes out ahead with 282 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Boulder sees 31.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Boulder | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.50°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.20°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 19.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 16.60 in | in |
| Snowfall | 31.20 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 282 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Boulder has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Centennial.
Boulder scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Boulder leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Boulder | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Centennial is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Centennial is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Boulder has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Boulder | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,689 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Boulder
Advantages
Unmatched access to open space and outdoor recreation, with over 300 days of annual sunshine and miles of direct trail access.
Exceptionally high educational attainment levels, with over 75% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or advanced qualification.
Thriving innovation and tech startup ecosystem fueled by proximity to the University of Colorado Boulder and federal research labs.
Robust multi-modal transportation infrastructure featuring extensive bike paths, pedestrian corridors, and reliable regional transit.
Active, health-conscious community culture emphasizing sustainability, organic foods, and active wellness.
Drawbacks
Significantly high cost of living and housing market pressures, with average monthly rent exceeding $2,300.
Limited ethnic and racial diversity compared to broader metropolitan benchmarks in Colorado.
Competitive real estate environment making homeownership challenging for median-income earners.
Traffic congestion along major regional corridors during peak commuting hours to and from Denver.
Strict growth boundaries driving up commercial lease rates for local small businesses and startups.
Centennial
Advantages
Centennial has a very low crime rate, 50% below the national average, making it one of the safest major U.S. cities.
The city boasts a high quality of life, ranked #1 in Colorado by U.S. News & World Report in 2025–2026.
Centennial has a strong job market and a high median household income of $131,928 as of 2024.
The public schools in Centennial are highly rated.
Residents benefit from a shorter average commute time (25.9 minutes) compared to the national average.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Centennial is higher than the national average, particularly for housing.
Average rent in Centennial is higher than the national average.
While public transit exists, the city still exhibits a medium car dependency.
The overall crime grade, while still good, is slightly higher than the average US city according to one source.
Some areas of Centennial have higher violent crime rates than others, particularly the northeast.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Boulder
#467Colorado, USA
54.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,395
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
128
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
282/yr
Avg Temp
50.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
88
Business
80
Centennial
#110Colorado, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,063
Avg Salary
$167,169
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.48%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
0
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