Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Overland Park, KS
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories
Overland Park
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
San Jose
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Homes cost $788k less ($361,800 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1148/mo less ($1,378 vs $2,526)
70% less violent crime than San Jose
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $35,134/yr
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,134 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Overland Park
Key Differences at a Glance
Overland Park
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Violent Crime
70% lower
184.4 vs 606.8 per 100k
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$788k less
$361,800 vs $1,149,600
Overland Park
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$35,134
$136,010 vs $100,876/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Overland Park, KS | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $100,876 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.5% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.2% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Blue Valley | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,676 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.4 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Overland Park's cost of living index is 93.3 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories. Overland Park wins 18 and San Jose wins 5. 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($100,876 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Overland Park, KS and San Jose, CA are about 1,474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.