Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
74% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $43,380 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($438,100 vs $586,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $181/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,949)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $43,380/yr
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$43,380
$124,617 vs $81,237/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
74% lower
172.8 vs 660.6 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$148k less
$438,100 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($124,617 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Santa Maria, CA are about 913 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.