Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 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
Seattle
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
78% less violent crime than Seattle
Homes cost $293k less ($586,500 vs $879,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.4%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Households earn $8,549 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Seattle, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$8,549
$124,617 vs $116,068/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
78% lower
172.8 vs 775.1 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$293k less
$586,500 vs $879,900
Centennial
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $116,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 17 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $879,900 median home), income ($124,617 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Seattle, WA are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.