Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 15 of 22 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Olathe
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
20% less violent crime than Olathe
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $27k less ($290,800 vs $317,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $22,250/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $22,250 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,426)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
20% lower
156.4 vs 196.0 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$27k less
$290,800 vs $317,900
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 88.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.7 on the COL index
Olathe
Median Income
$22,250
$108,077 vs $85,827/yr
Olathe
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 15 of 22 categories. New Braunfels wins 7 and Olathe wins 15. 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 New Braunfels to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $317,900 median home), income ($85,827 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Olathe, KS are about 662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.