Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Grand Rapids
Michigan
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $62,983 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Grand Rapids
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($203,900 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,949)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $62,983/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$62,983
$124,617 vs $61,634/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
81% lower
172.8 vs 910.1 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$383k less
$203,900 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $203,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,138 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $61,634 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 39.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 198,096 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 18 and Grand Rapids wins 5. 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 Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $203,900 median home), income ($124,617 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Grand Rapids, MI are about 1,022 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.