Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $59,021 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than South Bend
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 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
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($113,800 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $294/mo less ($935 vs $1,229)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $59,021/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Median Income
$59,021
$108,077 vs $49,056/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
80% lower
196.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$204k less
$113,800 vs $317,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 17 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 17 and South Bend wins 6. 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $113,800 median home), income ($108,077 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and South Bend, IN are about 490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.