Olathe is a mid-sized city of 142,114 in Kansas, with a median household income of $108,077
and a 3.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Olathe stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Olathe is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Olathe city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.3
Olathe's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Olathe costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Olathe, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$317,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,229
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$108,077
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Olathe's violent crime rate is 196.0 per 100,000 residents
— 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
196.0 /100k
Property Crime
941.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Olathe is served primarily by School for Deaf.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Olathe, KS
National Avg
School District
School for Deaf
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
4.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
50.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Olathe sees average highs of 38.7°F in January
and 88.2°F in July,
with 40.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.8 inches of snow per year.
Olathe's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Olathe roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $317,900 and median rent is $1,229/month.
Olathe's violent crime rate is 196.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 941.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Olathe are operated by School for Deaf.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.7:1. 50.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Olathe, KS has a population of 142,114, a median household income of $108,077, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Olathe averages 38.7°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.7 inches
with about 13.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Olathe, KS is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 66061, 66062.
The population of Olathe, Kansas is 142,114 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Olathe: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $317,900, median household income $108,077, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Olathe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
