Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Olathe
Kansas
20
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Median income trails Olathe by $43,958/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($317,900 vs $582,400)
Households earn $43,958 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
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
$43,958
$108,077 vs $64,119/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
65% lower
196.0 vs 558.4 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$265k less
$317,900 vs $582,400
Olathe
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles'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 20 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 3 and Olathe wins 20. 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 East Los Angeles to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $317,900 median home), income ($64,119 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Olathe, KS are about 1,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.