Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 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
Population
107,702
Stamford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $23,899 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $180/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Stamford, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $23,899/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$23,899
$124,617 vs $100,718/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Stamford
Violent Crime
9% lower
157.5 vs 172.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $584,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Stamford, CT are about 1,644 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.