Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Olathe leads 15 of 21 categories
Olathe
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
Tempe
Arizona
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
58% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $36,055 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $64k less ($317,900 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,472)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $36,055/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$36,055
$108,077 vs $72,022/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
58% lower
196.0 vs 470.3 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$64k less
$317,900 vs $382,100
Olathe
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) | A (125) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Olathe leads 15 of 21 categories. Olathe wins 15 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $382,100 median home), income ($108,077 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Tempe, AZ are about 1,026 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.