Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($586,500 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $673/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,622)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $11,953/yr
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Centennial
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Households earn $11,953 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Centennial
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Home Value
$297k less
$586,500 vs $883,600
Centennial
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$11,953
$136,570 vs $124,617/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
43% lower
99.2 vs 172.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Mission Viejo wins 8. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $883,600 median home), income ($124,617 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Mission Viejo, CA are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.