Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 12 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Overland Park
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $34k less ($327,700 vs $361,800)
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $27,110/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Overland Park, KS
Pros
62% less violent crime than Mesa
Households earn $27,110 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Home Value
$34k less
$327,700 vs $361,800
Mesa
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.2°F
Overland Park
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$27,110
$100,876 vs $73,766/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
62% lower
184.4 vs 482.7 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 196,676 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 12 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 11 and Overland Park wins 12. 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 Mesa to Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $361,800 median home), income ($73,766 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Overland Park, KS are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.