Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 Olathe leads 12 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($317,900 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $494/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,723)
17% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $34,307/yr
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $34,307 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Violent Crime
17% lower
196.0 vs 235.4 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$139k less
$317,900 vs $456,400
Olathe
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$34,307
$142,384 vs $108,077/yr
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 72.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 12 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 12 and The Woodlands wins 11. 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $456,400 median home), income ($108,077 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and The Woodlands, TX are about 603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.