Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 21 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
21
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($317,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,981)
69% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.2%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$18,865
$108,077 vs $89,212/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
69% lower
196.0 vs 627.9 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$367k less
$317,900 vs $684,900
Olathe
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 21 of 23 categories. Boston wins 2 and Olathe wins 21. 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 Boston to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $317,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Olathe, KS are about 1,267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.