Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 12 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
142,114
Scottsdale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $334k less ($317,900 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $539/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 99°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
22% less violent crime than Olathe
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Olathe
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$3,880
$108,077 vs $104,197/yr
Olathe
Median Home Value
$334k less
$317,900 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
22% lower
152.5 vs 196.0 per 100k
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 12 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 11 and Scottsdale wins 12. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $651,800 median home), income ($108,077 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,013 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.