Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 12 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702
Virginia Beach
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,073 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Virginia Beach
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($343,700 vs $586,500)
47% less violent crime than Centennial
Rent averages $381/mo less ($1,568 vs $1,949)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $37,073/yr
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$37,073
$124,617 vs $87,544/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.3% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
47% lower
92.3 vs 172.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$243k less
$343,700 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $87,544 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 11 and Virginia Beach wins 12. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $343,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.