Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Huntington Beach
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Homes cost $390k less ($586,500 vs $976,800)
17% less violent crime than Huntington Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,318)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Centennial
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$9,870
$124,617 vs $114,747/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
17% lower
172.8 vs 207.3 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$390k less
$586,500 vs $976,800
Centennial
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $114,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 16.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 93.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 17 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $976,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Huntington Beach, CA are about 833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.