Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
San Marcos, 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 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
22% less violent crime than San Marcos
Households earn $25,204 more per year on average
Homes cost $142k less ($586,500 vs $728,800)
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%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $25,204/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (4.2% 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
$25,204
$124,617 vs $99,413/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
22% lower
172.8 vs 222.4 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$142k less
$586,500 vs $728,800
Centennial
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | San Marcos, 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 | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $99,413 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Marcos'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 Marcos 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $728,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and San Marcos, CA are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.