Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Olathe
Kansas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($213,400 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $99/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,229)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $53,341/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $53,341 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$105k less
$213,400 vs $317,900
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$53,341
$108,077 vs $54,736/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
76% lower
196.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories. Albany wins 4 and Olathe wins 19. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $317,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Olathe, KS are about 1,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.