Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Santa Monica, 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Homes cost $1068k less ($586,500 vs $1,654,800)
78% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,820 more per year on average
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,227)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Centennial by $17,820/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$17,820
$124,617 vs $106,797/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
78% lower
172.8 vs 778.0 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$1068k less
$586,500 vs $1,654,800
Centennial
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $106,797 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Santa Monica 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 Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Santa Monica, CA are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.