Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ 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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Median income trails Olathe by $31,833/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $505k less ($317,900 vs $822,600)
73% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,791)
Households earn $31,833 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.2%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$31,833
$108,077 vs $76,244/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
73% lower
196.0 vs 728.5 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$505k less
$317,900 vs $822,600
Olathe
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $317,900 median home), income ($76,244 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Olathe, KS are about 1,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.