Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $307k less ($317,900 vs $624,800)
79% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,853)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $21,459 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Olathe
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$21,459
$108,077 vs $86,618/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
79% lower
196.0 vs 923.1 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$307k less
$317,900 vs $624,800
Olathe
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 18 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $624,800 median home), income ($108,077 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Richmond, CA are about 1,487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.