Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Sunnyvale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Homes cost $1094k less ($586,500 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1041/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,990)
29% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.4%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $49,889/yr
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,889 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Centennial
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Violent Crime
29% lower
172.8 vs 244.5 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$1094k less
$586,500 vs $1,680,700
Centennial
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$49,889
$174,506 vs $124,617/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 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 | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Sunnyvale, CA are about 939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.