Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories
Downey
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Olathe
Kansas
18
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($317,900 vs $679,000)
57% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $585/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,814)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Households earn $23,841 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$23,841
$108,077 vs $84,236/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
57% lower
196.0 vs 460.5 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$361k less
$317,900 vs $679,000
Olathe
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories. Downey wins 5 and Olathe wins 18. 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 Downey to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $317,900 median home), income ($84,236 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Olathe, KS are about 1,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.