Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 16 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Overland Park
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Households earn $5,138 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Overland Park
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($361,800 vs $553,000)
35% less violent crime than Arvada
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,378 vs $1,706)
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $5,138/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$5,138
$106,014 vs $100,876/yr
Overland Park
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Violent Crime
35% lower
184.4 vs 285.6 per 100k
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$191k less
$361,800 vs $553,000
Overland Park
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $100,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 38.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 16 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 6 and Overland Park wins 16. 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 Arvada to Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $361,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Overland Park, KS are about 562 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.