Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($246,000 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,229)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $46,574/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $46,574 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 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
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$72k less
$246,000 vs $317,900
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 88.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.0 on the COL index
Olathe
Median Income
$46,574
$108,077 vs $61,503/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
83% lower
196.0 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 10 and Olathe wins 13. 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 Albuquerque to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $317,900 median home), income ($61,503 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Olathe, KS are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.