City Comparison
Greeley vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Greeley
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Greeley.
Housing costs are a major driver: Greeley's average rent is
28% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Greeley | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,495 | $2,063 | -28% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,435 | $2,063 | +18% |
| Cost Index | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 63% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Greeley | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $69,881 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Greeley runs warmer on average — a 52.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Greeley comes out ahead with 286 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Greeley sees 20.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Greeley | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 52.70°F | °F |
| Summer High | 87.30°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 17.70°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 16.80 in | in |
| Snowfall | 20.30 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 286 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Greeley scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Greeley leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Greeley | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 48.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Greeley is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Centennial.
From a growth perspective, Greeley 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 | Greeley | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,073 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.20% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Greeley
Advantages
Median home prices and average rents remain significantly more affordable than the Colorado state average and neighboring Front Range cities.
A diversified and resilient local economy featuring major employers in food processing, energy, and healthcare.
A youthful, vibrant population and collegiate atmosphere anchored by the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College.
Extensive recreational amenities including over 30 parks, miles of trails, and cultural venues like the Union Colony Civic Center.
Recognized economic growth momentum and status as a prominent Northern Colorado regional hub.
Drawbacks
Certain industrial and agricultural operations can create localized odors and environmental management challenges across parts of the city.
Public transit options outside core areas are limited, resulting in high reliance on personal vehicles for daily commutes.
Poverty rates in specific neighborhoods remain slightly higher than the state average due to demographic shifts.
Rapid regional growth has placed upward pressure on traffic congestion along key arterial corridors during peak hours.
Proximity to heavy industrial and energy extraction sites draws ongoing debate regarding environmental and land-use policies.
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.
Greeley
#235Colorado, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
52.70°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
75
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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