Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Centennial leads 13 of 22 categories
Centennial
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Memphis
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $76,527 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 13% higher than Memphis
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $447k less ($139,600 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $899/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,949)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $76,527/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$76,527
$124,617 vs $48,090/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
93% lower
172.8 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$447k less
$139,600 vs $586,500
Memphis
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Centennial leads 13 of 22 categories. Centennial wins 13 and Memphis 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $139,600 median home), income ($124,617 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Memphis, TN are about 874 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.