Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Overland Park, KS
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Overland Park leads 15 of 23 categories
Overland Park
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
Phoenix
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Overland Park, KS
Pros
77% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $28,784 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $22k less ($340,200 vs $361,800)
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $28,784/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Overland Park
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$28,784
$100,876 vs $72,092/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
77% lower
184.4 vs 799.6 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$22k less
$340,200 vs $361,800
Phoenix
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Overland Park, KS | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,378⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $100,876 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.5% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.2% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Blue Valley | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,676 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Overland Park's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 15 of 23 categories. Overland Park wins 15 and Phoenix 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 Overland Park to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $340,200 median home), income ($100,876 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Overland Park, KS and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,035 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.