City Comparison
Castle Rock vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Castle Rock scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Castle Rock
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Castle Rock.
Housing costs are a major driver: Castle Rock's average rent is
14% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Castle Rock | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,772 | $2,063 | -14% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,702 | $2,063 | +31% |
| Cost Index | 115 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 49% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Castle Rock | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $85,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $66,996 | $0 |
| Household Income | $145,197 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Castle Rock runs warmer on average — a 50°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Castle Rock comes out ahead with 279 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Castle Rock sees 31.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Castle Rock | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 17.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 20.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 31.50 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 279 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Centennial has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Castle Rock.
Castle Rock scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Castle Rock leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Castle Rock | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 29 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 11.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 64.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Centennial is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Castle Rock.
From a growth perspective, Castle Rock is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Castle Rock has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Castle Rock | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,815 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.72% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.70% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Castle Rock
Advantages
Ranked as one of the safest cities and suburbs in Colorado with low violent and property crime rates per FBI and SafeWise data.
Exceptional median household income of $145,197, outperforming state and national benchmarks significantly.
Robust outdoor amenity network featuring over 20 parks, 80 miles of trails, and the iconic Rock Park.
Top-rated healthcare infrastructure anchored by AdventHealth Castle Rock, a designated Level III trauma center with an 'A' safety grade.
Thriving local business environment and downtown district offering high-end dining, shopping, and community festivals.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and housing expenses run significantly higher than the national average, impacting affordability.
High car dependency with limited public mass transit options, leading to heavy reliance on I-25 for commuting.
Rapid population growth has intensified traffic congestion along key local arteries and the main interstate corridors.
Average rent and home purchase prices place a heavy financial burden on lower-income service workers and young adults.
Strict water conservation and growth management policies can face friction as the municipality approaches buildout caps.
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.
Castle Rock
#55Colorado, USA
70.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,772
Avg Salary
$85,000
Cost Index
115
Commute
29 min
Transit Score
11.0/100
Walkability
64.0/100
Sunny Days
279/yr
Avg Temp
50.00°F
Pop. Growth
2.72%
Unemployment
3.70%
Livability
85
Business
76
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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