Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
43% less violent crime than Tracy
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $12,900 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Tracy, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $12,900/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$12,900
$124,617 vs $111,717/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
43% lower
172.8 vs 301.4 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$31k less
$586,500 vs $617,300
Centennial
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 17 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 17 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($124,617 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Tracy, CA are about 903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.