Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $49,169 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Wilmington
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 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.
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $49,169/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$49,169
$108,077 vs $58,908/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
59% lower
196.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($108,077 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Wilmington, NC are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.