Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Gainesville, FL
🏆 Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Gainesville
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $80,834 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Gainesville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 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
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Gainesville
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($216,600 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $798/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,949)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $80,834/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$80,834
$124,617 vs $43,783/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
77% lower
172.8 vs 738.0 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Gainesville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$370k less
$216,600 vs $586,500
Gainesville
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Gainesville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $216,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,151 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $43,783 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 50.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | ALACHUA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 142,414 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 26.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Gainesville's 96.9 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Gainesville wins 8. 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 Gainesville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $216,600 median home), income ($124,617 vs $43,783), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Gainesville, FL are about 1,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.