Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
142,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $41,474 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Olathe
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Olathe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $822k less ($317,900 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1193/mo less ($1,229 vs $2,422)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $41,474/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$41,474
$149,551 vs $108,077/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
29% lower
138.6 vs 196.0 per 100k
Olathe
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Home Value
$822k less
$317,900 vs $1,139,500
Olathe
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.0% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $108,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 10 and Olathe wins 13. 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 Bellevue to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $317,900 median home), income ($149,551 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Olathe, KS are about 1,492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.