Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
49% less violent crime than Renton
Households earn $32,325 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Renton, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Rent averages $85/mo less ($1,864 vs $1,949)
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $32,325/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$32,325
$124,617 vs $92,292/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
49% lower
172.8 vs 339.2 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 19 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 19 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $576,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Renton, WA are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.