Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
19
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $31,745/yr
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
83% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $31,745 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 22°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$31,745
$108,077 vs $76,332/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
83% lower
196.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$11k less
$317,900 vs $328,700
Olathe
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 4 and Olathe wins 19. 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 Minneapolis to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $317,900 median home), income ($76,332 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Olathe, KS are about 428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.