Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 12 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Olathe
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077
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.
Carmel, IN
Pros
66% less violent crime than Olathe
Households earn $24,782 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($317,900 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $270/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,499)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 4.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $24,782/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$24,782
$132,859 vs $108,077/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
66% lower
66.0 vs 196.0 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.2% unemployment
Olathe
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Home Value
$108k less
$317,900 vs $425,900
Olathe
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $108,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 45 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 73.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 12 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 11 and Olathe wins 12. 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 Carmel to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $317,900 median home), income ($132,859 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Olathe, KS are about 469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.