Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
San Diego
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
58% less violent crime than San Diego
Homes cost $197k less ($586,500 vs $783,300)
Households earn $25,960 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 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
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
San Diego, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Median income trails Centennial by $25,960/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$25,960
$124,617 vs $98,657/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
58% lower
172.8 vs 412.2 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$197k less
$586,500 vs $783,300
Centennial
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $98,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 17 and San Diego wins 6. 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 San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $783,300 median home), income ($124,617 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and San Diego, CA are about 828 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.