Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 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
Rochester
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $63,921 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (3.2%)
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)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($111,400 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $234/mo less ($995 vs $1,229)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $63,921/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$63,921
$108,077 vs $44,156/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
66% lower
196.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.5% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$207k less
$111,400 vs $317,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 10.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rochester's 97.7 (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 Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($108,077 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Rochester, NY are about 942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.