Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 20 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Olathe
Kansas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $34,061/yr
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Olathe
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Olathe, KS
Pros
67% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $34,061 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
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
$34,061
$108,077 vs $74,016/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
67% lower
196.0 vs 599.2 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$47k less
$317,900 vs $364,700
Olathe
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton'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 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 20 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 2 and Olathe wins 20. 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 Brockton to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $317,900 median home), income ($74,016 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Olathe, KS are about 1,266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.