Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 14 of 22 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($158,500 vs $317,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,229)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $54,653/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $54,653 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$159k less
$158,500 vs $317,900
Olathe
Median Income
$54,653
$108,077 vs $53,424/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
70% lower
196.0 vs 660.2 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 14 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 8 and Olathe wins 14. 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 ($158,500 vs $317,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Olathe, KS are about 912 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.