Moving from Centennial, CO to Cambridge, MA

It is 1990 mi and 36h 17m from Centennial to Cambridge β€” a cross-country move across 10 states. Housing, cost of living, climate, and tax picture all tend to shift substantially at this distance. This page pulls the current figures from each federal source and Zillow Research into one comparison.

1990 mi Β· 36h 17m 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 +60.5% Ξ” +1.0Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1990 mi
Drive time
36h 17m
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 routeBoston, Brockton, Lowell, Worcester, Springfield

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

Cost of living

CentennialCambridgeU.S. avg
All items (RPP)105.782108.266100.0
Rents87.856148.768100.0
Goods100.95799.651100.0
Services146.919148.424100.0

No material COL gap at the headline level β€” BEA RPP for both cities falls within 5% (2024).

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

Housing prices

Centennial β€” typical home
$649,086
Cambridge β€” typical home
$1,041,569
Centennial β€” typical rent
$2,121/mo
Cambridge β€” typical rent
$3,456/mo

2.3% jump on the typical home value β€” a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.

YoY change: Centennial -2.8%, Cambridge -1.5%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsCentennialCambridge
Annual avg temperature50Β°F51Β°F
January avg low19Β°F19Β°F
July avg high87Β°F85Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation15.0"49.4"

No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.

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

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023CentennialCambridge
Population107,386117,794
Median household income$128,167$126,469
Median age41.830.5
Bachelor's degree or higher37%29.8%
Avg household size2.592.38

No material income gap at the median: ACS 2023 puts both cities within 5%.

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

Jobs & wages

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

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Colorado and Massachusetts

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

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Massachusetts'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 Cambridge more expensive than Centennial?

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

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

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1990 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Cambridge, MA from Centennial, CO?

The driving distance is 1990 mi and the route typically takes 36h 17m via I 80 and I 80 EXPRESS. The trip crosses 10 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How much do homes cost in Cambridge compared to Centennial?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $1,041,569 in Cambridge vs $649,086 in Centennial β€” a 60.5% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does household income compare in Centennial vs Cambridge?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $126,469 in Cambridge vs $128,167 in Centennial β€” a 1.3% lower 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 Centennial.

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

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