Moving from Worcester, MA to Centennial, CO

A 1956 mi cross-country move between Worcester and Centennial is 35h 36m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 10 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

1956 mi Β· 35h 36m by car Β· MA β†’ CT β†’ NY β†’ PA β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ CO

COL +3.2% Home values +50.9% Ξ” +2.1Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1956 mi
Drive time
35h 36m
States
10
Fuel (25 mpg)
78 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 routeSpringfield, Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, Bridgeport

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

Cost of living

WorcesterCentennialU.S. avg
All items (RPP)102.523105.782100.0
Rents155.20687.856100.0
Goods97.015100.957100.0
Services113.001146.919100.0

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

Worcester β€” typical home
$430,112
Centennial β€” typical home
$649,086
Worcester β€” typical rent
$2,156/mo
Centennial β€” typical rent
$2,121/mo

3.2% jump on the typical home value β€” a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.

YoY change: Worcester +1.0%, Centennial -2.8%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsWorcesterCentennial
Annual avg temperature48Β°F50Β°F
January avg low17Β°F19Β°F
July avg high80Β°F87Β°F
Annual snowfall72.9"β€”
Annual precipitation48.3"15.0"

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

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

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023WorcesterCentennial
Population205,501107,386
Median household income$67,544$128,167
Median age34.141.8
Bachelor's degree or higher20.1%37%
Avg household size2.62.59

Centennial households earn about 3.2% more than Worcester at the median β€” $67,544 β†’ $128,167 on ACS 2023.

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

Jobs & wages

Worcester MSA β€” median wage
β€”
Centennial MSA β€” median wage
$58,490
Worcester 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

When is the best time to move from Worcester 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 1956 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Centennial, CO from Worcester, MA?

The driving distance is 1956 mi and the route typically takes 35h 36m 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 Centennial compared to Worcester?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $649,086 in Centennial vs $430,112 in Worcester β€” a 50.9% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Is Centennial more expensive than Worcester?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Centennial is 3.2% higher than Worcester (105.782 vs 102.523, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How does household income compare in Worcester vs Centennial?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $128,167 in Centennial vs $67,544 in Worcester β€” a 89.8% 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 Worcester.

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

Related routes