Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 20 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Homes cost $922k less ($586,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1022/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,971)
29% less violent crime than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.4%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $24,535/yr
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $24,535 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Centennial
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Violent Crime
29% lower
172.8 vs 243.2 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$922k less
$586,500 vs $1,508,900
Centennial
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.7% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$24,535
$149,152 vs $124,617/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 58.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 20 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 20 and San Mateo wins 3. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($124,617 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and San Mateo, CA are about 951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.