Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Olathe
Kansas
16
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $30k less ($287,900 vs $317,900)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $48,719/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Olathe
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $48,719 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $160/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,389)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$30k less
$287,900 vs $317,900
Olathe
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$48,719
$108,077 vs $59,358/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
50% lower
196.0 vs 395.5 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 7 and Olathe wins 16. 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 Clearwater to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $317,900 median home), income ($59,358 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Olathe, KS are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.