UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
Olathe, KS is the #26 Best City to Live in the USA
| Olathe, KS Quality of Life Liv Score 635 How We Calculate Our Data |
|---|
| Civics | 50 |
| Demographics | 49 |
| Economy | 92 |
| Education | 57 |
| Health | 60 |
| Housing | 61 |
| Infrastructure | 56 |
| Amenities | 44 |
Why Olathe is one of the best cities to live in
Olathe, KS, was once a significant stop along the Santa Fe Trail when explorers were migrating from western Missouri to Santa Fe, NM, but today, the city is a thriving hotspot teeming with history and culture on every corner. Entrepreneurs will feel especially at home in Olathe. As one of the hottest spots in the Midwest right now, this Kansas city promotes “economic gardening,” which gives local businesses technical assistance to grow. Highly educated and innovative residents help make Olathe one of the best places in the U.S. to live.
The city is named for the Shawnee word for ‘beautiful,’ and thanks to gorgeous rolling hills and scenic scapes, Olathe lives up to its name. It’s the fourth-largest city in Kansas and one of the country’s fastest-growing cities. Olathe also has good schools, affordable housing, lots of new development and plenty of green space, helping the city draw young families looking to put down roots in an up-and-coming city.
Farmer’s Insurance and Garmin International are among the top employers.
Kansas State – Olathe, MidAmerica Nazarene University & Johnson County Community College’s Health Education Center
Hot summers and cold winters. You’ll need an umbrella, too. Olathe gets a good deal of rain.
Hike or bike along the Indian Creek Trail or hit the fairways at the Prairie Highlands Golf Club.
Olathe, KS is Remote-Ready
Olathe is one of the largest cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area and the city’s commercial and industrial parks are home to many major companies, including Farmers Insurance. Though the company is headquartered out of Los Angeles, the Olathe hub of the company employs more people than any of its other offices around the country.
What Locals Love in Olathe, KS
The Olathe Public Library system will entice the most loyal bookworms and new readers alike.
Time travel at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site, a 19th-century farm that families love. The site is home to horses, goats, and sheep (and during the pandemic, kids wrote sweet letters to their farm friends).
In the summer, Fourth Fridays in downtown Olathe is a community celebration with live bands. There are also food trucks, balloon artists, and $1 science experiments for kids.
Grab a pint and a Dr. Pepper BBQ burger at Red Crow Brewing Company.
Olathe has sister-city relationships with Chur, Switzerland, and Ocotlán, Mexico.
A growing economy, good schools and an affordable cost of living make Olathe a best place to live in Kansas.
Thinking of Moving to Olathe?
Olathe, KS real estate has been appreciating in value steadily for five years straight, a sign that Olathe is a smart investment in the Kansas City metro area. Homes for sale in Olathe, KS are more affordable than in nearby Overland Park, but still list higher than in Kansas City proper. Overall local real estate agents recommend Olathe as a good middle ground for newcomers to the area who want to buy their first home. For young, first-time homebuyers, look for homes in central and western Olathe which are extra close to city amenities and parkland.
Quick Facts About Olathe, KS
- Average Commute
- 19.22
- Median Home Value
- $313,146
- Med. Household Income
- $99,121
- Total Population
- 142,664
- Walk Score
- 26
- Median Property Tax
- $2,355
