Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
17
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.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Median income trails Olathe by $15,374/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Olathe, KS
Pros
42% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,446)
Households earn $15,374 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.2°F
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$15,374
$108,077 vs $92,703/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
42% lower
196.0 vs 339.4 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$22k less
$317,900 vs $339,500
Olathe
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 6 and Olathe wins 17. 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 Chesapeake to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $317,900 median home), income ($92,703 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Olathe, KS are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.