Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $46,596/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $46,596 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Eugene
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Homes cost $88k less ($317,900 vs $406,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$46,596
$108,077 vs $61,481/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
38% lower
196.0 vs 317.9 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$88k less
$317,900 vs $406,000
Olathe
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories. Eugene 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 Eugene to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $317,900 median home), income ($61,481 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Olathe, KS are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.