Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Menifee, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Menifee
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,871
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
103,680
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,746 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Menifee, CA
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($442,600 vs $586,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $36,746/yr
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 42.5 min average each way
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
$36,746
$124,617 vs $87,871/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Menifee
Median Home Value
$144k less
$442,600 vs $586,500
Menifee
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Menifee, 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 | $442,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,946⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $87,871 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 42.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (64) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 20.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Menifee Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 65.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 96.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 103,680 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 80.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Menifee's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 14 and Menifee 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 Menifee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $442,600 median home), income ($124,617 vs $87,871), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Menifee, CA are about 794 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.