Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
14
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $31,675/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $31,675 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Boise City
Homes cost $84k less ($317,900 vs $401,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.4 on the COL index
Olathe
Median Income
$31,675
$108,077 vs $76,402/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
33% lower
196.0 vs 293.8 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$84k less
$317,900 vs $401,800
Olathe
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories. Boise City 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 Boise City to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $317,900 median home), income ($76,402 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Olathe, KS are about 1,155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.