Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 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
Springfield
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $60,400 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($198,500 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,229)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $60,400/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$60,400
$108,077 vs $47,677/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
78% lower
196.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$119k less
$198,500 vs $317,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 18 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 18 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $198,500 median home), income ($108,077 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Springfield, MA are about 1,188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.