Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
20
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $61,617/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Olathe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $61,617 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.5 pts lower (3.2%)
66% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$61,617
$108,077 vs $46,460/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
66% lower
196.0 vs 581.2 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
7.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories. Newark wins 3 and Olathe wins 20. 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 Newark to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $317,900 median home), income ($46,460 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Olathe, KS are about 1,101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.