Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
Spokane
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $44,761 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 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
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,229)
Homes cost $31k less ($286,900 vs $317,900)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $44,761/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$44,761
$108,077 vs $63,316/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
71% lower
196.0 vs 674.9 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Median Home Value
$31k less
$286,900 vs $317,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 16 and Spokane wins 7. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $286,900 median home), income ($108,077 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Spokane, WA are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.