Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
Pasadena
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $43,379 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($171,600 vs $317,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $43,379/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Olathe
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$43,379
$108,077 vs $64,698/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
65% lower
196.0 vs 566.1 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$146k less
$171,600 vs $317,900
Pasadena
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 16 and Pasadena wins 7. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $171,600 median home), income ($108,077 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Pasadena, TX are about 638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.