Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 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
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $68,497 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Kansas City
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $453k less ($133,800 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $905/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,949)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $68,497/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$68,497
$124,617 vs $56,120/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
83% lower
172.8 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$453k less
$133,800 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 14 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $133,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Kansas City, KS are about 542 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.