Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Centennial, CO
🏆 Centennial leads 19 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Centennial
Colorado
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $35,405/yr
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Centennial, CO
Pros
72% less violent crime than Boston
Households earn $35,405 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $98k less ($586,500 vs $684,900)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$35,405
$124,617 vs $89,212/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
72% lower
172.8 vs 627.9 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$98k less
$586,500 vs $684,900
Centennial
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Centennial, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $124,617 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 15.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 107,702 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 82.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Centennial's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 19 of 23 categories. Boston wins 4 and Centennial wins 19. 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 Boston to Centennial or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $586,500 median home), income ($89,212 vs $124,617), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Centennial, CO are about 1,765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.