Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
San Francisco
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $1031k less ($317,900 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1087/mo less ($1,229 vs $2,316)
67% less violent crime than San Francisco
24% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $28,612/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,612 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Olathe
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Violent Crime
67% lower
196.0 vs 596.5 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$1031k less
$317,900 vs $1,348,700
Olathe
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
26.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$28,612
$136,689 vs $108,077/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 14 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 14 and San Francisco wins 9. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($108,077 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and San Francisco, CA are about 1,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.