What are the schools like in Olpe, KS?

Olpe is served primarily by Southern Lyon County. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

What is the median household income in Olpe?

The median household income in Olpe, KS is $84,904 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.5%.

What is the weather like in Olpe, KS?

Olpe has an average high temperature of 41.3°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.9 inches.

Olpe, KS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Olpe, KS affordable or expensive?

Olpe's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Olpe is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $138,400 and the median rent is $766 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Olpe, KS?

Olpe has a violent crime rate of 268.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1671.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Olpe, KS a Good Place to Live?

Olpe is a small town of 482 in Kansas, with a median household income of $84,904 and a 1.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Olpe stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Olpe is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Olpe 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: 88.8

Olpe's overall cost of living index is 88.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Olpe costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Olpe, KS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$138,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$766	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$84,904	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Olpe's violent crime rate is 268.1 per 100,000 residents — 29% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

268.1 /100k

Property Crime

1671.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Olpe is served primarily by Southern Lyon County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Olpe, KS	National Avg
School District	Southern Lyon County	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Olpe sees average highs of 41.3°F in January and 90.0°F in July, with 34.8 inches of annual precipitation and 10.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Olpe, KS
Average High — January	41.3°F
Average High — July	90.0°F
Annual Precipitation	34.8"
Annual Snowfall	10.9"

Demographics

Metric	Olpe, KS	National Avg
Population	482	—
Median Age	30.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	32.2%	22.2%
65 and over	13.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Madison, KS 9 mi Emporia, KS 10 mi Hartford, KS 12 mi Neosho Rapids, KS 12 mi Americus, KS 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Olpe

Olpe, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

66865

Olpe vs Other Cities

Olpe, KS vs Madison, KS Olpe, KS vs Emporia, KS Olpe, KS vs Hartford, KS Olpe, KS vs Neosho Rapids, KS Olpe, KS vs Americus, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olpe, KS affordable or expensive?

Olpe's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Olpe roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $138,400 and median rent is $766/month.

What is the crime rate in Olpe, KS?

Olpe's violent crime rate is 268.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1671.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Olpe?

Public schools in Olpe are operated by Southern Lyon County. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Olpe, KS a good place to live?

Olpe, KS has a population of 482, a median household income of $84,904, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. 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.

What is the weather like in Olpe?

Olpe averages 41.3°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.8 inches with about 10.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Olpe?

Olpe, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66865.

What is the population of Olpe?

The population of Olpe, Kansas is 482 with a median age of 30.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Olpe?

Key numbers for living in Olpe: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $138,400, median household income $84,904, crime index 74 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Olpe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.