Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Greeley, CO
🏆 Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Greeley
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,525
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
107,949 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $59,092 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Greeley
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Greeley
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Greeley, CO
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($346,400 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $741/mo less ($1,208 vs $1,949)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $59,092/yr
Violent crime (670.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3019.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$59,092
$124,617 vs $65,525/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
74% lower
172.8 vs 670.7 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Greeley
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Greeley
Median Home Value
$240k less
$346,400 vs $586,500
Greeley
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Greeley, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 96.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $346,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,208 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $65,525 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 26.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 34.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 107,949 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 60.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Greeley's 96.0 (US average = 100).
Greeley is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 14 and Greeley wins 9. 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 Greeley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $346,400 median home), income ($124,617 vs $65,525), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Greeley, CO are about 57 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.