Performance
Score Breakdown
Broomfield
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Broomfield is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
66% lower compared to Centennial.
Housing costs are a major driver: Broomfield's average rent is
100% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Broomfield | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $2,063 | -100% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $700 | $2,063 | -66% |
| Cost Index | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Broomfield | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $0 |
| Household Income | $123,874 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Broomfield | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 44.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Broomfield scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Broomfield leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Broomfield | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 10.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 16.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Centennial is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Broomfield.
From a growth perspective, Broomfield is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Broomfield has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Broomfield | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 80,154 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.24% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 4.20% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Broomfield
Advantages
Broomfield consistently ranks high for safety, named the #1 safest midsize city in the U.S. by SmartAsset.
The city boasts a high livability score of 85/100, ranking in the 98th percentile nationally.
Broomfield has a strong and growing job market, with employment increasing by 1.43% from 2023 to 2024.
The average commute time of 25.5 minutes is efficient for a metro area of its size, aided by good regional access via US 36.
The city offers extensive open spaces and recreational opportunities, including over 8,000 acres of trails and parks.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Broomfield is approximately 20% higher than the national average, primarily due to housing costs.
Broomfield has a low Walk Score of 16 and a Transit Score of 10, indicating high car dependency.
While overall crime is low, the overall crime rate is higher than the average US city when considering all crime types.
The housing market is considered overvalued relative to local economic output, with a housing ratio of 10.4x.
Some residents express concerns about environmental factors like air quality from wildfire smoke and past issues related to Rocky Flats.
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.
Broomfield
#28Colorado, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
10.0/10
Walkability
16.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.24%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
85
Business
68
Centennial
#28Colorado, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,063
Avg Salary
$167,169
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.48%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
0
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