Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
16
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.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($247,900 vs $317,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,229)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $41,990/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $41,990 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$70k less
$247,900 vs $317,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.1 on the COL index
Olathe
Median Income
$41,990
$108,077 vs $66,087/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
25% lower
196.0 vs 262.0 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 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 | 69 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 7 and Olathe wins 16. 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $317,900 median home), income ($66,087 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Olathe, KS are about 563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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