Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
18
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($202,900 vs $317,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $49,728/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $49,728 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$115k less
$202,900 vs $317,900
Olathe
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$49,728
$108,077 vs $58,349/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
88% lower
196.0 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 5 and Olathe 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 Baltimore to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $317,900 median home), income ($58,349 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Olathe, KS are about 975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.