Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Chula Vista, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Chula Vista
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Chula Vista
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $22,633 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $61k less ($586,500 vs $647,100)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $22,633/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 3.4%)
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$22,633
$124,617 vs $101,984/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
54% lower
172.8 vs 375.8 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$61k less
$586,500 vs $647,100
Centennial
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.8% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Chula Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $647,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,035⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $101,984 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 8.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 85.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Chula Vista Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 74.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 276,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Chula Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 17 and Chula Vista wins 6. 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 Centennial to Chula Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $647,100 median home), income ($124,617 vs $101,984), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Chula Vista, CA are about 830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.