City Comparison
Colorado Springs vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Colorado Springs
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 Colorado Springs.
Housing costs are a major driver: Colorado Springs's average rent is
15% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $2,063 | -15% |
| Groceries | $420 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $170 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,710 | $2,063 | +31% |
| Cost Index | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 58% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $84,818 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Colorado Springs scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Colorado Springs leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 44.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Colorado Springs is the larger city
— approximately 4.5x the population of Centennial.
From a growth perspective, Colorado Springs is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Colorado Springs has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 494,743 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.57% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Colorado Springs
Advantages
Median home value remains more accessible than Denver metro counterparts per Zillow 2026 data
Unemployment rate sits at a healthy 4.1% matching competitive national benchmarks per BLS
Unmatched proximity to iconic outdoor recreation including Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods
Robust local economy driven by aerospace, defense technology, and high-tech sectors
Average monthly earnings outpace national averages per recent BLS occupational wage reports
Drawbacks
High elevation and dry climate require adjustment periods for new residents
Significant car dependency across sprawling suburban neighborhoods limits transit utility
Property crime rates in certain central urban pockets remain above national medians
Rapid historical growth has strained local infrastructure and traffic capacity on I-25
Home prices and rents have escalated significantly compared to pre-2020 affordability levels
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.
Colorado Springs
#307Colorado, USA
61.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
101
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.57%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
80
Business
72
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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