Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $29,310 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Olathe
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $515k less ($317,900 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $998/mo less ($1,229 vs $2,227)
23% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $29,310/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$29,310
$137,387 vs $108,077/yr
Olathe
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Violent Crime
23% lower
196.0 vs 254.4 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$515k less
$317,900 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $108,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Olathe wins 14. 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 Arlington to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $317,900 median home), income ($137,387 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Olathe, KS are about 952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.