Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 13 of 22 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
13
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($133,800 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,229)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $51,957/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $51,957 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$184k less
$133,800 vs $317,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Olathe
Median Income
$51,957
$108,077 vs $56,120/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
81% lower
196.0 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 26.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 13 of 22 categories. Kansas City wins 9 and Olathe wins 13. 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 Kansas City to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $317,900 median home), income ($56,120 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Olathe, KS are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.