B+

Olathe, KS

Source:

Affordability Score: 79/100

Population: 130,216 · 2 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Olathe, KS aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes covering 130,216 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (79/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $114,410, median home value of $364,786, median rent of $1,298 per month, and 50.6% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,358 per month (studio $1,095, 1BR $1,197, 3BR $1,769, 4BR $2,103). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,634 per year, consuming 10% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Olathe, KS include income, education, rent. Unemployment currently reads 2.6% and poverty 5.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A
$114,410
Median household income
Education A-
50.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.2x
Home value $364,786 vs income
Commute B
21 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,358/mo
2BR fair market rent (14% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B
$11,634/yr
Center-based infant care (10% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$114,410
▲ 85% vs national
Per Capita Income
$50,898
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Poverty Rate
5.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$364,786
▲ 33% vs national
Median Rent
$1,298/mo
Owner Occupied
75.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,358/mo
▲ 13% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,095
1BR
$1,197
2BR
$1,358
3BR
$1,769
4BR
$2,103

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
50.6%
▲ 21 ppt vs national
High School+
67.1%
Median Age
37.4
Avg. Commute
21 min
▼ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,634/yr
10% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,080/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,512/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,077/yr

What This Means

Olathe, KS receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (79/100), aggregated from 2 ZIP codes with a total population of 130,216. This area performs well in income and education and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Olathe ZIP Codes
View all 2 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Olathe, KS affordable?
Olathe, KS receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (79/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $114,410. Median home value is $364,786.
What is the cost of living in Olathe?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,298/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,358/mo. Infant childcare $11,634/yr. Median home value $364,786.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →