Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $56,181 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Indio
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Indio, CA
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($373,200 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,949)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $56,181/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 3.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Centennial
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$56,181
$124,617 vs $68,436/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
49% lower
172.8 vs 336.2 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Median Home Value
$213k less
$373,200 vs $586,500
Indio
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 39.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 69.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 13 and Indio wins 10. 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $373,200 median home), income ($124,617 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Indio, CA are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.