Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Sacramento
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
77% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $45,663 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
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
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($450,500 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,949)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $45,663/yr
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$45,663
$124,617 vs $78,954/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
77% lower
172.8 vs 754.9 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$136k less
$450,500 vs $586,500
Sacramento
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 16 and Sacramento wins 7. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $450,500 median home), income ($124,617 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Sacramento, CA are about 892 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.