Centennial Rankings

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History of Accolades and Awards 

The City is consistently recognized both locally and nationally for its superb quality of life, safety, great neighborhoods and abundance of recreational opportunities. Centennial strives for innovation and excellence and the accolades listed below are proof Centennial is really quite the package!

 

 

 

2023 Accolades and Awards

2022 Accolades and Awards

2021 Accolades and Awards

  • Recognized one of 10 unique Zoom towns by Rent.com (2021)
  • No. 8 on Money Magazine's 50 Best Places to Live in America (2021)
  • Spark Centennial Program selected by Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) for a for a Metro Vision Award (2021)
  • Accredited by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the second time (2021)
  • Awarded fifth consecutive Exceptional Workplace Award (formerly the Gallup Great Workplace Award) by Gallup (2021)
  • Received Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (2021)

2020 Accolades and Awards

  • One of 39 winners worldwide recognized with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (2020)
  • Awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the City's comprehensive annual financial report (2020)
  • No. 8 on RetailMeNot’s list of the best cities in the country for remote workers (2020)
  • No. 5 on  SmartAsset's list of the Most Livable Mid-Sized U.S. Cities (2020)
  • No. 1 on AdvisorSmith's list of Safest Cities with a Population Over 100,000 (2020) 
  • No. 8 on LendEDU's list of Most Budget-Friendly Cities in Colorado for Renters (2020)
  • No. 4 on LendEDU's list of Colorado Cities with the Best Homeowner Return on Investment (2020) 
  • Nationally Recognized by LendEDU as One of the Most Budget-Friendly Cities For Homeowners (2020)
  • No. 13 on Safewise's list of Safest Cities in Colorado (2020)
  • No. 5 on LendEDU's list of Safest Cities in Colorado (2020) 
  • No. 2 on HomeSnacks's list of Best Places to Live in Colorado (2020)

2019 Accolades and Awards

  • No. 2 on SmartAsset's Most Livable Mid-Sized City in the U.S. (2019)
  • Recognized as the safest city in Colorado and number 43 in the nation by 24/7 Wall Street (2019)
  • No. 64 on Money Magazine's Best Places to Live in America (2019)

2018 Accolades and Awards

  • No. 8 on SmartAsset's list of Most Livable Mid-Sized Cities in the U.S. (2018)
  • No. 5 on Military Times' list of Best Places to Live for Veterans (2018)
  • No. 3 on WalletHub's list of 'Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers' (2018)
  • No. 10 on Niche's list of 'Best Suburbs to Live in the Denver Area' (2018)

2017 Accolades and Awards

  • The American Public Works Association recognizes Centennial’s Public Works Department as the first public-private partnership public works agency in the U.S. (2017)
  • No. 4 on SafeHome's list of the 25 Safest Communities in Colorado (2017)
  • No. 73 on SafeHome's list of the 101 Safest Cities in the U.S. (2017)
  • No. 2 on the '50 Best Cities to Live' list by 24/7 Wall Street (2017)
  • 3rd Most Livable Mid-Sized City in the United States by SmartAsset (2017)
  • No. 3 on Military Times' 'Best Place to Live' list (2017)
  • 3rd Best Place to Raise a Family by SmartAsset (2017)
  • 9th Best Small Real Estate Market by WalletHub (2017)
  • 5th Best Splash Pad in the U.S. by USA Today Readers' Choice (2017)
  • One of the Best Places to Move/Open a Business from the Best of Colorado Business Choice Awards (2017)
  • 8th Best City for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet (2017)
  • 2nd Healthiest Housing Market in Colorado by financial technology company SmartAsset (2017)
  • One of the Best Cities for Families by Apartment List (2017)
  • One of Best Cities to Start a Family by LendEDU (2017)

2016 Accolades and Awards

  • Centennial Center Park - Best Place for Outdoor Fun by Macaroni Kid Daisy Awards (2016)
  • No. 13 Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine (2016)
  • 5th Most Customer-Friendly City in America by Yelp (2016)
  • No. 3 Best for Place for Veterans to Live by Military Times rankings for medium cities (2016)
  • 9th Best City for First-Time Homebuyers by Wallet Hub (2016)
  • Named 4th “Most Successful” City in the Nation by Zippia Inc. (2016)
  • One of Best Cities for Young Families by Apartment List (2016)
  • One of the Safest Cities in Colorado by CQ Press (2016)

2015 Accolades and Awards

  • No. 4 Best Place to Live in USA Today’s 50 Best Places to Live in America (2015)
  • 80122 named 3rd “Hottest Zip Code” for home sales in the Nation by Realtor.com (2015)
  • Best City in Colorado for first-time home buyers by WalletHub (2015)
  • Centennial Center Park named #1 of Eight Playgrounds in Colorado that Make You Feel Like a Kid Again by ImFromDenver.com (2015)
  • Best for Vets: Places to Live 2015 rankings for Medium Cities (2015)
  • “Under the Stars” Laser Light Show and Concert named Best Annual Event in Colorado Community Media’s Reader’s Choice Awards (2015) 

2014 Accolades and Awards

  • No. 13 Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine (2014)
  • No. 26 Best Place to Live in USA Today’s 50 Best Places to Live in America (2014)
  • America's Most Internet-Connected City by Governing Magazine (2014)
  • One of the most “equal” large communities with greatest income equality by NerdWallet (2014)
  • 5280 Magazine named Centennial Center Park Best Playground (2014)

2013 Accolades and Awards

  • Centennial Center Park received the Live Work Play Awards from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (2013)

2012 Accolades and Awards

  • No. 47 in Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine (2012)
  • Centennial Center Park Awarded the Colorado Lottery's Starburst Award (2012)
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