Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 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
Population
142,114
Virginia Beach
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Rent averages $339/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,568)
Households earn $20,533 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Olathe
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Median income trails Olathe by $20,533/yr
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$20,533
$108,077 vs $87,544/yr
Olathe
Median Home Value
$26k less
$317,900 vs $343,700
Olathe
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.3% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
53% lower
92.3 vs 196.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $87,544 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 16 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 16 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $343,700 median home), income ($108,077 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,034 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.