Aurora vs Centennial
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $469,100 in Aurora and $658,100 in Centennial.
- Households earn more in Centennial ($131,928 vs $88,368 median).
- Aurora gets far more snow: 49 inches a year vs 34.
- Aurora is growing faster: +6.2% since 2020 vs +0.6%.
Side by side
| Aurora, CO | Centennial, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 410,053 | 108,658 |
| Growth since 2020 | +6.2% | +0.6% |
| People per square mile | 2,499 | 3,603 |
| Median age | 35.3 | 42.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34% | 63% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $88,368 | $131,928 |
| Median home value | $469,100 | $658,100 |
| Home value to income | 5.3× | 5.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,835 | $2,148 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 105.8 | 105.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 146.9 | 146.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $79,300 | $79,300 |
| Homeowners | 62% | 81% |
| Top state income tax | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.89% | 7.89% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 28.6 | 25.9 |
| Work from home | 17% | 27% |
| Take public transit | 3% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.9% | 4.6% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 3.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 47° / 18° | 45° / 19° |
| July high / low | 90° / 59° | 87° / 59° |
| Precipitation per year | 15 in | 15 in |
| Snowfall per year | 49 in | 34 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 42 | 32 |
| Nights below freezing | 156 | 155 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 29% | 29% |
| Home prices, past year | -0.5% | -0.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +21.4% | +21.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Aurora: May to June and September. Centennial: May to June and August to September.
Full monthly tables: Aurora weather by month and Centennial weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $79,300 in Aurora and $79,300 in Centennial. Moving from Aurora to Centennial, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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