Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 22 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
1
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Olathe
Kansas
22
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $48,138/yr
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Olathe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $48,138 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.2%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$48,138
$108,077 vs $59,939/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
52% lower
196.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$41k less
$317,900 vs $358,400
Olathe
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 22 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 1 and Olathe wins 22. 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 Elizabeth to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $317,900 median home), income ($59,939 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Olathe, KS are about 1,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.