Moving from Boston, MA to Centennial, CO

Cross-country relocations like Boston, MA β†’ Centennial, CO cover 1994 mi and about 36h 22m of driving through 10 states. Expect a multi-day trip and a meaningful change in climate, cost-of-living, and job market. The sections below compare each data layer directly from BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, and NOAA.

1994 mi Β· 36h 22m by car Β· MA β†’ CT β†’ NY β†’ PA β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ CO

COL -2.3% Home values -18.7% Ξ” -1.7Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1994 mi
Drive time
36h 22m
States
10
Fuel (25 mpg)
80 gal
Route throughMA β†’ CT β†’ NY β†’ PA β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ CO
Primary highwaysI 80, I 80 EXPRESS, I 84
Major cities en routeBrockton, Cambridge, Lowell, Providence, Worcester

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

BostonCentennialU.S. avg
All items (RPP)108.266105.782100.0
Rents148.76887.856100.0
Goods99.651100.957100.0
Services148.424146.919100.0

Overall cost of living in Centennial and Boston is within Β±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) β€” plan your budget on category-level differences instead.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Boston β€” typical home
$798,217
Centennial β€” typical home
$649,086
Boston β€” typical rent
$3,441/mo
Centennial β€” typical rent
$2,121/mo

Typical home value in Centennial is 2.3% below Boston ($649,086 vs $798,217 on Zillow ZHVI, 2026-03).

YoY change: Boston -0.4%, Centennial -2.8%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsBostonCentennial
Annual avg temperature52Β°F50Β°F
January avg low23Β°F19Β°F
July avg high82Β°F87Β°F
Annual snowfall49.2"β€”
Annual precipitation43.6"15.0"

Annual average temperatures in Boston (51.9Β°F) and Centennial (50.2Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA US, DENVER CENTENNIAL AP, CO US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023BostonCentennial
Population663,972107,386
Median household income$94,755$128,167
Median age33.241.8
Bachelor's degree or higher28.5%37%
Avg household size2.382.59

Income gap is large: median household income climbs 2.3% between Boston and Centennial (ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Boston MSA β€” median wage
β€”
Centennial MSA β€” median wage
$58,490
Boston MSA β€” employment
β€”
Centennial MSA β€” employment
1,590,330

Top occupations in Centennial MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 173,910 $49,000
Sales and Related Occupations 172,890 $48,280
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 164,250 $84,370
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 140,150 $36,010
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 129,510 $45,350

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Massachusetts and Colorado

Massachusetts income tax
9% top marginal
Colorado income tax
4.4% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Colorado's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Lake-effect off Lake Ontario can shut down I-81 and I-90 for hours in winter β€” check 511NY.
  • The Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg can see chain requirements in heavy winter storms.
  • Mountain passes on I-70 west of Denver and on I-25 near Raton can close for snow November through April β€” check CDOT alerts before departure.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Frequently asked

Is Centennial more expensive than Boston?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Centennial is 2.3% lower than Boston (105.782 vs 108.266, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

When is the best time to move from Boston to Centennial?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1994 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How much do homes cost in Centennial compared to Boston?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $649,086 in Centennial vs $798,217 in Boston β€” a 18.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How far is Centennial, CO from Boston, MA?

The driving distance is 1994 mi and the route typically takes 36h 22m via I 80 and I 80 EXPRESS. The trip crosses 10 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How does household income compare in Boston vs Centennial?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $128,167 in Centennial vs $94,755 in Boston β€” a 35.3% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Boston.

City profiles: Boston, MA Β· Centennial, CO.

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