City Comparison
Commerce City vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Commerce City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Commerce City
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
19% lower than in Commerce City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Commerce City's average rent is
22% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Commerce City | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,614 | $2,063 | -22% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,544 | $2,063 | +23% |
| Cost Index | 102 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 51% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Commerce City | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $64,560 | $0 |
| Household Income | $111,972 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Commerce City runs warmer on average — a 53.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Commerce City comes out ahead with 292 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Commerce City sees 21.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Commerce City | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.40°F | °F |
| Summer High | 86.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 20.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 17.50 in | in |
| Snowfall | 21.10 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 292 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Centennial has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Commerce City.
Commerce City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Commerce City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Commerce City | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 54.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Centennial is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Commerce City.
From a growth perspective, Commerce City is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Commerce City | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,400 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.90% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Commerce City
Advantages
Strategic geographic location adjacent to Denver International Airport and major interstate corridors
Home to the unique 15,000-acre Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
More attainable median home values compared to downtown Denver proper
Direct commuter rail access to downtown Denver via the RTD N Line
Thriving master-planned communities offering modern amenities and family-oriented neighborhoods
Drawbacks
Higher than average exposure to heavy industrial zoning and logistics truck traffic in older sectors
Moderate to high car dependency for daily commuting outside of transit-oriented hubs
Rapid population growth has put upward pressure on local housing and rental costs
Varying commercial retail density depending on the specific neighborhood or development phase
Proximity to major industrial facilities can create localized air quality and environmental concerns
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.
Commerce City
#91Colorado, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,614
Avg Salary
$82,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
292/yr
Avg Temp
53.40°F
Pop. Growth
2.90%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
74
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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