Which city is safer, Centennial or Denver?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 137 in Centennial and 137 in Denver (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Centennial or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Centennial and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Centennial, CO vs Denver, CO

Centennial, CO versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,708 a month in Centennial and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $92,292 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Centennial takes affordability, job market, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Centennial leads by 18% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Centennial can feel further apart than Centennial and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Centennial and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Centennial report Full Denver report

Centennial, CO

Rent: $1,708/mo
Median income: $92,292
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

18% cheaper

Centennial rent is 18% cheaper than Denver

Centennial

Winner

$1,708/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,708 a month in Centennial versus $2,089 in Denver, so Centennial is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,572 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Centennial still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

8% higher

Centennial's median income is 8% higher than Denver

Centennial

Winner

$92,292

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $92,292 in Centennial versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Centennial — about $6,439 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

Neck and neck

Centennial and Denver are about even on crime index.

Centennial

137 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Centennial and Denver post similar crime indexes (137 vs 137, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Centennial and Denver are about even on school scores.

Centennial

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Centennial, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

14% more comfortable

Centennial weather is 14% more comfortable than Denver

Centennial

Winner

78°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Centennial scores 14% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 78°F in Centennial and 82°F in Denver. Centennial reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Denver's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Centennial is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Centennial

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Centennial is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,708 a month. Choose Centennial if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 8% higher ($92,292), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 78°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Centennial report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Denver

On these five categories Centennial takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Denver because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Denver only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Centennial vs Denver, called

If cost of living is your priority, Centennial is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Centennial pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Centennial offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Centennial vs Denver FAQ

Is Centennial cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Centennial is $1,708 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 18% cheaper. Median household income is $92,292 in Centennial compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Centennial has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Centennial or Denver?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 137 in Centennial and 137 in Denver (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Centennial or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Centennial and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Centennial?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps