Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 12 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702
Richardson
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,255 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Richardson
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($379,800 vs $586,500)
15% less violent crime than Centennial
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,725 vs $1,949)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $30,255/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$30,255
$124,617 vs $94,362/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Violent Crime
15% lower
146.7 vs 172.8 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$207k less
$379,800 vs $586,500
Richardson
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $94,362 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 12 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 11 and Richardson wins 12. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $379,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Richardson, TX are about 644 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.