Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $30,509 more per year on average
Homes cost $75k less ($317,900 vs $392,900)
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)
Smaller class sizes — 4.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Orem, UT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $30,509/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Olathe
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$30,509
$108,077 vs $77,568/yr
Olathe
Median Home Value
$75k less
$317,900 vs $392,900
Orem
Violent Crime
11% lower
174.5 vs 196.0 per 100k
Orem
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.4% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 18 and Orem wins 5. 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 Olathe to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $392,900 median home), income ($108,077 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Orem, UT are about 903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.