Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 19 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Overland Park
Kansas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($304,500 vs $361,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $29,203/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
66% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $29,203 more per year on average
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Home Value
$57k less
$304,500 vs $361,800
Overland Park
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$29,203
$100,876 vs $71,673/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
66% lower
184.4 vs 539.8 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 196,676 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 19 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 4 and Overland Park wins 19. 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 Chicago to Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $361,800 median home), income ($71,673 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Overland Park, KS are about 421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.