Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Olathe, KS
Pros
81% less violent crime than Anchorage
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Homes cost $46k less ($317,900 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,405)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$12,346
$108,077 vs $95,731/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
81% lower
196.0 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$46k less
$317,900 vs $363,800
Olathe
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
20.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 3 and Olathe wins 20. 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 Anchorage to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $317,900 median home), income ($95,731 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Olathe, KS are about 2,751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.