Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 13 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,852 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Hoover
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Hoover, AL
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($366,200 vs $586,500)
55% less violent crime than Centennial
Rent averages $597/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,949)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $22,852/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$22,852
$124,617 vs $101,765/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 3.9% unemployment
Hoover
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Violent Crime
55% lower
78.0 vs 172.8 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$220k less
$366,200 vs $586,500
Hoover
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $101,765 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 96.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 69.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 13 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 10 and Hoover wins 13. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $366,200 median home), income ($124,617 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Hoover, AL are about 1,089 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.