City Comparison
Denver vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Denver
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
28% lower than in Denver.
| Metric | Denver | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,975 | $2,063 | -4% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $90 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,865 | $2,063 | +39% |
| Cost Index | 106 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 52% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Denver | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $81,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $94,718 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Denver runs warmer on average — a 53.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Denver comes out ahead with 285 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Denver sees 22.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Denver | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 87.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 19.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 16.90 in | in |
| Snowfall | 22.70 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 285 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Denver scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Denver leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Denver | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 62.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Denver is the larger city
— approximately 6.8x the population of Centennial.
From a growth perspective, Denver is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Centennial has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Denver | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 740,613 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.90% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Denver
Advantages
Median household income stands at $94,718, significantly outpacing the national average per U.S. Census data.
Enjoyment of approximately 285 sunny days per year, supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Proximity to world-class Rocky Mountain recreation, including premier skiing, hiking, and biking destinations.
Thriving job market with strong sectors in aerospace, technology, and healthcare offering competitive wages.
Vibrant cultural and entertainment ecosystem highlighted by the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre and a thriving craft beverage scene.
Drawbacks
Cost of living runs roughly 6% higher than the national average, led by steep housing and rental expenses.
Median home values of $616,000 present substantial barriers to entry for first-time homebuyers.
Frequent traffic congestion along major commuter corridors like I-25 and I-70 during peak hours.
Air quality can occasionally be impacted by regional wildfire smoke and temperature inversions in the mountain basin.
Property crime rates in certain dense urban neighborhoods require standard metropolitan vigilance.
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.
Denver
#356Colorado, USA
59.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,975
Avg Salary
$81,000
Cost Index
106
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
285/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
82
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 Denver and Centennial.
Open Cost Calculator