Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $73,094 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Roanoke
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $425k less ($162,000 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $1032/mo less ($917 vs $1,949)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $73,094/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$73,094
$124,617 vs $51,523/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
72% lower
172.8 vs 620.4 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$425k less
$162,000 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $162,000 median home), income ($124,617 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Roanoke, VA are about 1,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.