Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Vallejo
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
77% less violent crime than Vallejo
Households earn $38,505 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($515,500 vs $586,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $38,505/yr
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$38,505
$124,617 vs $86,112/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
77% lower
172.8 vs 739.8 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$71k less
$515,500 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 18 and Vallejo wins 5. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $515,500 median home), income ($124,617 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Vallejo, CA are about 940 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.