Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Centennial, CO
🏆 Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Centennial
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $564/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,949)
Homes cost $120k less ($466,300 vs $586,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $60,138/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Centennial
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $60,138 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$120k less
$466,300 vs $586,500
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 87.3°F
Centennial
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$60,138
$124,617 vs $64,479/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
67% lower
172.8 vs 518.1 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Centennial, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $586,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,949⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $124,617 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 15.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 107,702 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 82.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Centennial's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 7 and Centennial wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arden-Arcade to Centennial or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $586,500 median home), income ($64,479 vs $124,617), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Centennial, CO are about 887 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.