Performance
Score Breakdown
Aurora
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
22% higher compared to Aurora.
Housing costs are a major driver: Aurora's average rent is
17% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Aurora | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,715 | $2,063 | -17% |
| Groceries | $355 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $355 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $88 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,513 | $2,063 | +22% |
| Cost Index | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 63% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Aurora | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $61,855 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $41,621 | $0 |
| Household Income | $93,837 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Aurora | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 50.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Centennial has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Aurora.
Aurora scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Aurora leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Aurora | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 29 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 43.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 43.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Aurora is the larger city
— approximately 3.8x the population of Centennial.
From a growth perspective, Aurora is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Aurora has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Aurora | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 418,218 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.40% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 4.20% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Aurora
Advantages
Aurora boasts a diverse and growing population, with a projected 418,218 residents in 2026.
The city is a major healthcare hub, home to the Anschutz Medical Campus and numerous hospitals, providing excellent medical access and employment.
Aurora offers abundant outdoor recreational opportunities with over 97 parks and 5,000 acres of open space and trails.
The average rent in Aurora is generally lower than in neighboring Denver, offering more affordable housing options.
The job market shows good growth, with a 1.71% employment increase in 2024, particularly in healthcare, retail, and construction sectors.
Drawbacks
Aurora has a significantly high crime rate, with an overall crime rate of 7,072 per 100,000 residents in 2024.
The city is largely car-dependent, with a low Walk Score of 43 and limited public transit options in many areas.
The cost of living in Aurora is slightly higher than the national average, with an index of 103.
Assisted living costs in Aurora are higher than both the state and national averages, at approximately $5,014 per month in 2024.
Healthcare costs are 19% higher than the national average, impacting overall affordability.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Aurora
#64Colorado, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,715
Avg Salary
$61,855
Cost Index
103
Commute
29 min
Transit Score
43.0/10
Walkability
43.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.40%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
65
Business
70
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
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