Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 15 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Olathe
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $285/mo less ($944 vs $1,229)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Homes cost $27k less ($291,300 vs $317,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Olathe
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $51,196/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $51,196 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 4.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$27k less
$291,300 vs $317,900
Olathe
Median Income
$51,196
$108,077 vs $56,881/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
54% lower
196.0 vs 423.7 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 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 | 112⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 15 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 8 and Olathe wins 15. 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 Fayetteville to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $317,900 median home), income ($56,881 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Olathe, KS are about 197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.