Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Olathe leads 15 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $48,765 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Yuma
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($186,500 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,229)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $48,765/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Median Income
$48,765
$108,077 vs $59,312/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
54% lower
196.0 vs 423.6 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Yuma
Median Home Value
$131k less
$186,500 vs $317,900
Yuma
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 64.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 15 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 15 and Yuma wins 8. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $186,500 median home), income ($108,077 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Yuma, AZ are about 1,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.