City Comparison
Parker vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Parker
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
32% lower than in Parker.
| Metric | Parker | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,050 | $2,063 | -1% |
| Groceries | $420 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $3,020 | $2,063 | +46% |
| Cost Index | 122 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 47% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Parker | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $88,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $133,369 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Parker runs warmer on average — a 51.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Parker comes out ahead with 280 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Parker sees 28.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Parker | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.80°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 18.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 28.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Parker scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Parker leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Parker | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Centennial is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Parker.
From a growth perspective, Parker is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Parker has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Parker | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,473 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.45% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.00% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Parker
Advantages
Median household income stands at an affluent $133,369 per year, significantly outperforming the national average.
Consistently maintains low crime rates, ranking as one of the safest communities of its size in Colorado.
Features over 1,000 acres of developed park land and extensive connectivity to the Cherry Creek regional trail network.
More than 56% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, fostering a highly educated community.
Home to AdventHealth Parker, providing high-quality acute healthcare and specialized services locally.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living and housing expenses run substantially higher than the U.S. national average.
High degree of car dependency with limited public mass transit options for daily work commuters.
Competitive real estate market places homeownership out of reach for many median-income earners.
Commuting to downtown Denver or the Tech Center during peak hours can result in significant highway congestion.
Limited dense urban nightlife or late-night entertainment options within town limits.
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.
Parker
#124Colorado, USA
66.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,050
Avg Salary
$88,000
Cost Index
122
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
51.80°F
Pop. Growth
2.45%
Unemployment
3.00%
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
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