Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ 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.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($254,200 vs $317,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $47,079/yr
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $47,079 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Norfolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$64k less
$254,200 vs $317,900
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$47,079
$108,077 vs $60,998/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
58% lower
196.0 vs 469.5 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories. Norfolk 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 Norfolk to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $317,900 median home), income ($60,998 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Olathe, KS are about 1,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.