Performance
Score Breakdown
Centennial
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
56% lower compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Centennial's average rent is
39% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Centennial | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,063 | $3,382 | -39% |
| Groceries | $0 | $520 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $370 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $130 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,063 | $4,652 | -56% |
| Cost Index | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 66% higher average salaries.
| Metric | Centennial | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $167,169 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $61,000 |
| Household Income | $131,928 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Centennial | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 51.00% | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Centennial has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,500 minutes (142 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Centennial | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 88.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 89.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Centennial is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Centennial has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Centennial | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,178 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.48% | % |
| Median Age | 42.0 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.90% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Centennial
Advantages
Centennial has a very low crime rate, 50% below the national average, making it one of the safest major U.S. cities.
The city boasts a high quality of life, ranked #1 in Colorado by U.S. News & World Report in 2025–2026.
Centennial has a strong job market and a high median household income of $131,928 as of 2024.
The public schools in Centennial are highly rated.
Residents benefit from a shorter average commute time (25.9 minutes) compared to the national average.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Centennial is higher than the national average, particularly for housing.
Average rent in Centennial is higher than the national average.
While public transit exists, the city still exhibits a medium car dependency.
The overall crime grade, while still good, is slightly higher than the average US city according to one source.
Some areas of Centennial have higher violent crime rates than others, particularly the northeast.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Centennial
#21Colorado, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,063
Avg Salary
$167,169
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.48%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
0
New York City
#65New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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