Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $56,626 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (3.2%)
39% less violent crime than Waterbury
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($162,800 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,229)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $56,626/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$56,626
$108,077 vs $51,451/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
39% lower
196.0 vs 322.5 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$155k less
$162,800 vs $317,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 19 and Waterbury wins 4. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $162,800 median home), income ($108,077 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Waterbury, CT are about 1,161 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.