Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 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
Independence
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $67,202 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Independence
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $436k less ($150,800 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $929/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,949)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $67,202/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$67,202
$124,617 vs $57,415/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
70% lower
172.8 vs 571.2 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$436k less
$150,800 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 13.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 60.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 14 and Independence 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $150,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Independence, MO are about 563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.