Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Olathe
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
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.
Concord, NC
Pros
19% less violent crime than Olathe
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $30k less ($288,100 vs $317,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $24,597/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $24,597 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Violent Crime
19% lower
159.0 vs 196.0 per 100k
Concord
Median Home Value
$30k less
$288,100 vs $317,900
Concord
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.2°F
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$24,597
$108,077 vs $83,480/yr
Olathe
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord 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 Concord to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $317,900 median home), income ($83,480 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Olathe, KS are about 817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.