Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 12 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Olathe
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
30% less violent crime than Olathe
Households earn $40,150 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Olathe
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($317,900 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1124/mo less ($1,229 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $40,150/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$40,150
$148,227 vs $108,077/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
30% lower
138.1 vs 196.0 per 100k
Olathe
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Home Value
$320k less
$317,900 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $108,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 73.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 12 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 11 and Olathe wins 12. 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 Highlands Ranch to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $317,900 median home), income ($148,227 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Olathe, KS are about 545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.