Is Centennial cheaper than Seattle?

Yes. Typical rent in Centennial is $1,708 a month versus $2,501 in Seattle — 32% cheaper. Median household income is $92,292 in Centennial compared with $116,068 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Centennial or Seattle?

Seattle is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 137 in Centennial — 15% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Centennial or Seattle?

Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Centennial — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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City comparison

Centennial, CO vs Seattle, WA

Centennial, CO versus Seattle, WA 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 $2,501 in Seattle, and median household income lands at $92,292 versus $116,068. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Centennial takes affordability, while Seattle takes job market, safety, schools, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Centennial leads by 32% — 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 Seattle do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Centennial and Seattle reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Centennial report Full Seattle report

Centennial, CO

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

Seattle, WA

Rent: $2,501/mo
Median income: $116,068
Crime index: 116
Schools: A
Weather: 66°F

Rent

32% cheaper

Centennial rent is 32% cheaper than Seattle

Centennial

Winner

$1,708/mo

Seattle

$2,501/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,708 a month in Centennial versus $2,501 in Seattle, so Centennial is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $793/month back in your pocket — $9,516/year. Over five years that's $47,580 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Seattle, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Centennial is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

26% higher

Seattle's median income is 26% higher than Centennial

Centennial

$92,292

Seattle

Winner

$116,068

What this means for your life

Median household income is $116,068 in Seattle versus $92,292 in Centennial, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Seattle — about $23,776 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. Centennial can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

15% lower crime

Seattle's crime index is 15% lower than Centennial

Centennial

137 (100 = avg)

Seattle

Winner

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Seattle's crime index is 116 versus 137 in Centennial (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Seattle. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Seattle, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Centennial. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

5% higher scores

Seattle's school scores are 5% higher than Centennial

Centennial

A- · 84/100

Seattle

Winner

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

Seattle grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Centennial — school scores run 5% higher in Seattle. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Centennial is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

13% more comfortable

Seattle weather is 13% more comfortable than Centennial

Centennial

78°F typical

Seattle

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Seattle scores 13% 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 66°F in Seattle. Centennial reads as warm weather most of the year; Seattle reads as mild, livable temperatures. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Centennial's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Seattle is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Centennial

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

Centennial is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% 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.

Open the Centennial report →

Fit check

Who should choose Seattle

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

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 26% higher ($116,068), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Seattle is the stronger everyday city for households that care about calm streets and usable public schools. Safety and school scores both land here. You will still pick a neighborhood with care, but the citywide baseline is less of a gamble than in Centennial.

Open the Seattle report →

Bottom line

Centennial vs Seattle, called

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

If the job market matters more to you, Seattle pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Centennial vs Seattle FAQ

Is Centennial cheaper than Seattle?: Yes. Typical rent in Centennial is $1,708 a month versus $2,501 in Seattle — 32% cheaper. Median household income is $92,292 in Centennial compared with $116,068 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Centennial or Seattle?: Seattle is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 137 in Centennial — 15% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Centennial or Seattle?: Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Centennial — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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