Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702
Simi Valley
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Rent averages $453/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,402)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $118k less ($586,500 vs $704,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $12,473 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Centennial
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Median income trails Centennial by $12,473/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$12,473
$124,617 vs $112,144/yr
Centennial
Median Home Value
$118k less
$586,500 vs $704,200
Centennial
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
25% lower
129.1 vs 172.8 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Simi Valley, 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 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $112,144 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 41.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 72.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 16 and Simi Valley wins 7. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $704,200 median home), income ($124,617 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Simi Valley, CA are about 849 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.