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Living in
Centennial.
About
Life in Centennial
With a median household income of $131,928 and median home prices around $658,100, you're looking at an affluent demographic—over 60% of residents hold college degrees—though that wealth comes with trade-offs: rents average $2,148 monthly and the housing market is decidedly pricey by national standards. The job market here centers on aerospace and defense (United Launch Airlines, National CineMedia, and other corporate headquarters), plus proximity to Denver's broader economic engine, and most people spend about 26 minutes commuting, which is reasonable for a metro area, though increasingly people are staying put less often—the city has actually seen slight population decline in recent years despite its size as Colorado's 11th most populous municipality. Weekends revolve around the serious outdoor recreation options that define life here: the High Line Canal Trail, Big Dry Creek, Little Dry Creek, and parks throughout the irregular, hilly terrain give real access to hiking, biking, and trail running without needing to drive far, plus Rocky Mountain National Park sits a manageable 69 miles away for weekend adventures.
Centennial at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Foreign-Born
9.9%
Broadband Internet
96.9%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Centennial: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Centennial, the largest foreign-born group is from India (11.4%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.7%
of households
Married Couples
60.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 22% above CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Centennial
In Centennial, rent runs 22% above the CO average, and home values are 22% above the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,588
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $626,600 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Centennial and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Centennial is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Centennial Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metro area
Commute25.9 min avg
How Centennial residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Centennial, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Major hub40.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 42% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Centennial runs 42% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
191.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,421.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Centennial Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Arapahoe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Arapahoe County, which includes Centennial, the most common type is winter weather, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 30 | Winter Weather | $2,000 |
| 2023 | 29 | Winter Weather | $154,000 |
| 2022 | 32 | Winter Weather | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 23 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 30 | Hail | $50,000 |
| 2018 | 26 | Hail | $277.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Arapahoe County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Arapahoe County, which includes Centennial, is typically good — 212 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
212
per year
Moderate Days
151
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Arapahoe County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Centennial has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.0"
Annual Snowfall
64.0"
Hot Days/Year
32
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
155
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
84
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 19°F | 0.41" |
| Feb | 46°F | 20°F | 0.43" |
| Mar | 54°F | 27°F | 1.04" |
| Apr | 60°F | 34°F | 1.94" |
| May | 69°F | 43°F | 2.04" |
| Jun | 81°F | 52°F | 1.98" |
| Jul | 87°F | 59°F | 1.76" |
| Aug | 85°F | 57°F | 2.25" |
| Sep | 77°F | 49°F | 1.29" |
| Oct | 64°F | 36°F | 1.00" |
| Nov | 52°F | 26°F | 0.53" |
| Dec | 44°F | 19°F | 0.35" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Centennial
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Centennial's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Highlands Behavioral Health System
Psychiatric · 3.1 mi away · Highlands Ranch
Denver Springs
Psychiatric · 3.2 mi away · Englewood
Sky Ridge Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Lone Tree
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Centennial
Centennial's student/teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 62.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
23
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
62.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Centennial (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
12.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 15,002 students · in-state tuition $11,540 · 39% graduate · median earnings $57,612 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
10.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,519 students · in-state tuition $10,835 · 52% graduate · median earnings $69,387 (10 yrs after entry)
Colorado State University Global
12.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,563 students · in-state tuition $9,000 · 45% graduate · median earnings $82,047 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,025 students · in-state tuition $63,246 · 77% graduate · median earnings $77,205 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,549 students · in-state tuition $42,758 · 31% graduate · median earnings $52,025 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,096 students · in-state tuition $5,218 · 15% graduate · median earnings $44,120 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 52 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Centennial
Centennial has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (52 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
52 mi awayRocky Mountain National Park
National Park
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Centennial
Castlewood Public Library
6739 South Uinta Street, Centennial
Koelbel Public Library
5955 South Holly Street, Centennial
Smoky Hill Public Library
5430 South Biscay Circle, Centennial
Southglenn Public Library
6972 South Vine Street, Centennial
Cities Near Centennial
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Centennial?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Centennial FAQ
Is Centennial, Colorado affordable?⌄
Centennial's median rent is $2,148/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $131,928/year. Median home value is $658,100.
Is Centennial, Colorado safe?⌄
Centennial's violent crime rate was 192 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1422 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Centennial, Colorado?⌄
Centennial has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Centennial, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Centennial is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,148/month and median household income is $131,928/year. The median home value is $658,100. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Centennial, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Centennial is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from