Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories
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
East Los Angeles
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $60,498 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,949)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $60,498/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Centennial
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$60,498
$124,617 vs $64,119/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
69% lower
172.8 vs 558.4 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | East Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $582,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $64,119 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 117,222 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 16 and East Los Angeles wins 7. 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 East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $582,400 median home), income ($124,617 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and East Los Angeles, CA are about 829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.