Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
17
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($259,500 vs $317,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $31,391/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Olathe
Higher unemployment (4.1% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $31,391 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Irving
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $194/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,423)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Home Value
$58k less
$259,500 vs $317,900
Irving
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.2°F
Olathe
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$31,391
$108,077 vs $76,686/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
29% lower
196.0 vs 275.4 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories. Irving wins 6 and Olathe wins 17. 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 Irving to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $317,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Olathe, KS are about 433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.