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Living in Olathe, KS

Suburb in Kansas

Olathe is a suburb in Kansas, home to about 144,000 people, with 2.0 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, a car is essential. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Olathe a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Family-friendly: playgrounds, family attractions and plenty of households with kids
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.5× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $356k and rents for $1,770 a month

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Higher taxes: about $1,592 state income tax per resident, 1.18% property tax

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Olathe ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
144,000
2.0 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
42°F / 86°F
Average daily highs · 14″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$356k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,770/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
93
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,592
State income tax per resident · 1.18% property tax
Safety
0.5× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
3 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
12
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
49%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MCI
30 mi away

Living in Olathe: common questions

What is the cost of living in Olathe?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $356k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,770 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Olathe?

Kansas collects about $1,592 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.18% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Olathe safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.5× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Olathe?

Olathe has cold winters: winter days average around 42°F and summer days around 86°F, with roughly 14″ of snow a year.

Does Olathe get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and cold waves: 3 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.3 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Olathe?

The nearest major airport is MCI, about 30 mi away.

How Olathe scores

Each bar compares Olathe with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Car essential Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Good
🧸Kids & family Excellent
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Average
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Good

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Is Olathe right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.