Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 16 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701
Overland Park
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($224,900 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,378)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 39°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Overland Park
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $38,027/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $38,027 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Norman
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Norman
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$137k less
$224,900 vs $361,800
Norman
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.2°F
Overland Park
Median Income
$38,027
$100,876 vs $62,849/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
29% lower
184.4 vs 260.2 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Norman is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 16 of 23 categories. Norman wins 7 and Overland Park wins 16. 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 Norman to Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $361,800 median home), income ($62,849 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Overland Park, KS are about 291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.