City Comparison
Littleton vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Littleton
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
23% lower than in Littleton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Littleton's average rent is
15% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Littleton | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $2,063 | -15% |
| Groceries | $420 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $170 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,680 | $2,063 | +30% |
| Cost Index | 118 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 56% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Littleton | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $74,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $88,500 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Littleton runs warmer on average — a 52.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Littleton comes out ahead with 282 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Littleton sees 23.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Littleton | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 52.60°F | °F |
| Summer High | 86.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 19.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 17.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 23.70 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 282 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Littleton scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Littleton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Littleton | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Centennial is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Littleton.
From a growth perspective, Littleton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Littleton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Littleton | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,652 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 42.0 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.60% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Littleton
Advantages
Historic downtown Littleton offers a vibrant cultural hub with local dining, shopping, and community events per city data.
Exceptional access to outdoor recreation, including Chatfield State Park and miles of regional trails.
Strong public safety profile with violent crime rates significantly below the national average per FBI uniform crime reporting.
Convenient regional transit connectivity via the RTD Light Rail D Line directly into downtown Denver.
Top-rated public school options within Littleton Public Schools and Jefferson County school districts.
Drawbacks
Housing affordability has declined significantly due to rapid appreciation across the Denver metropolitan area per Zillow data.
Higher-than-average cost of living compared to the national baseline, particularly regarding housing and real estate taxes.
Traffic congestion along major commuter corridors such as Santa Fe Drive during peak hours.
Vulnerability to seasonal weather volatility, including heavy winter snowstorms and dry summer wildfire risks.
Limited inventory of affordable multi-family rental housing within the immediate historic district.
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.
Littleton
#362Colorado, USA
59.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$74,000
Cost Index
118
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
282/yr
Avg Temp
52.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.60%
Livability
83
Business
75
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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Littleton and Centennial.
Open Cost Calculator