Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ 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.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($164,400 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $261/mo less ($968 vs $1,229)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Olathe
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $47,149/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $47,149 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Laredo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$154k less
$164,400 vs $317,900
Laredo
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 88.2°F
Olathe
Median Income
$47,149
$108,077 vs $60,928/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
46% lower
196.0 vs 365.8 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 26.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 10 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 Laredo to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $317,900 median home), income ($60,928 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Olathe, KS are about 827 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.