Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Overland Park
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
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
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Overland Park
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
82% less violent crime than Anchorage
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 21°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Overland Park
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$5,145
$100,876 vs $95,731/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
82% lower
184.4 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
20.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Overland Park, 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 | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 84 ✓ 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 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 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 | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 196,676 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 5 and Overland Park wins 18. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $361,800 median home), income ($95,731 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Overland Park, KS are about 2,755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.