Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Centennial leads 14 of 20 categories
Centennial
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $15,349 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($393,700 vs $586,500)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $15,349/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Centennial
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$15,349
$124,617 vs $109,268/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 84.3°F
Germantown
Median Home Value
$193k less
$393,700 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,908⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $109,268 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 32.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 65.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 20 categories. Centennial wins 14 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $393,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Germantown, MD are about 1,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.