Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 17 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216
Overland Park
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $22,330/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Overland Park, KS
Pros
39% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Households earn $22,330 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $55k less ($361,800 vs $416,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Overland Park
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$22,330
$100,876 vs $78,546/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
39% lower
184.4 vs 302.5 per 100k
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$55k less
$361,800 vs $416,500
Overland Park
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 62.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 97.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 17 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 6 and Overland Park wins 17. 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 Ann Arbor to Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $361,800 median home), income ($78,546 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Overland Park, KS are about 620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.