Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ 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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($184,200 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $186/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,229)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $59,768/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $59,768 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Knoxville
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.2%)
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
Knoxville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$134k less
$184,200 vs $317,900
Olathe
Median Income
$59,768
$108,077 vs $48,309/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
74% lower
196.0 vs 740.3 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 4.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville 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 Knoxville to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $317,900 median home), income ($48,309 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Olathe, KS are about 629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.