Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 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
Waukegan
Illinois
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
89,435
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $42,000 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Waukegan
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($164,400 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,229)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $42,000/yr
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Olathe
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$42,000
$108,077 vs $66,077/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
56% lower
196.0 vs 445.2 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$154k less
$164,400 vs $317,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 20 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 20 and Waukegan 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 Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($108,077 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Waukegan, IL are about 437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.