Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Olathe
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
14% less violent crime than Olathe
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Median income trails Olathe by $25,406/yr
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($317,900 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,649)
Households earn $25,406 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Violent Crime
14% lower
168.5 vs 196.0 per 100k
Olathe
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$25,406
$108,077 vs $82,671/yr
Olathe
Median Home Value
$259k less
$317,900 vs $576,900
Olathe
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.8% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 8 and Olathe wins 15. 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 Bend to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $317,900 median home), income ($82,671 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Olathe, KS are about 1,410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.