Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Centennial leads 19 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
New York
New York
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
74% less violent crime than New York
Households earn $48,010 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Homes cost $146k less ($586,500 vs $732,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
New York, NY
Pros
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,714 vs $1,949)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $48,010/yr
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$48,010
$124,617 vs $76,607/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
74% lower
172.8 vs 671.0 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$146k less
$586,500 vs $732,100
Centennial
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 19 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 19 and New York wins 4. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $732,100 median home), income ($124,617 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and New York, NY are about 1,627 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.