Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($196,700 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,229)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Olathe
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $43,826/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $43,826 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.2%)
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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Oklahoma City
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$121k less
$196,700 vs $317,900
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 88.2°F
Olathe
Median Income
$43,826
$108,077 vs $64,251/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
71% lower
196.0 vs 676.0 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 9 and Olathe wins 14. 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 Oklahoma City to Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $317,900 median home), income ($64,251 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Olathe, KS are about 279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.