Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Temecula, 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
Temecula
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 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
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,949 vs $2,222)
Households earn $12,736 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Temecula, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Median income trails Centennial by $12,736/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$12,736
$124,617 vs $111,881/yr
Centennial
Median Home Value
$18k less
$586,500 vs $604,300
Centennial
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Temecula
Violent Crime
12% lower
151.5 vs 172.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $111,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 15.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 110,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 68.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 16 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $604,300 median home), income ($124,617 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Temecula, CA are about 799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.