Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $127k less ($317,900 vs $445,200)
28% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Olathe
Median income trails Olathe by $13,013/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$13,013
$108,077 vs $95,064/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
28% lower
196.0 vs 273.6 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$127k less
$317,900 vs $445,200
Olathe
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| 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- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 72.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 20 and Thornton wins 3. 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $445,200 median home), income ($108,077 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Thornton, CO are about 545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.