The Town FilesOlathe, Kansas
City in Johnson County · population 141,290 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $364,700
- Household income
- $114,009
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 37.2
Olathe is a city of 141,290 people in Johnson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $364,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Kansas towns, more upscale than 95% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Kansas towns.
How Olathe ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Olathe is worth $364,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $114,009, which is more affordable than 8% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,314 a month. 74.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olathe | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $364,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,314 | $815 |
| Median household income | $114,009 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 74.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Olathe
| People | Olathe | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.5% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.2% | — |
| Work from home | 20.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Olathe
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.8 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olathe since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 20, 1957 about 6.0 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 283 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 19, 1974.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| November 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4347: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| December 12, 2007 | Severe Storm | EM-3282: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 370,992 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,090 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Olathe itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Olathe
53 public schools with 28,434 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olathe North Sr High | 9-12 | 2,036 | 14.9 |
| Olathe Northwest High School | 9-12 | 1,966 | 16.7 |
| Olathe South Sr High | 9-12 | 1,843 | 15.5 |
| Olathe East Sr High | 9-12 | 1,825 | 14.1 |
| Olathe West High School | 9-12 | 1,601 | 15.1 |
| Prairie Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 737 | 14.5 |
| Mission Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 699 | 14.6 |
| Frontier Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 666 | 13.6 |
| Oregon Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 638 | 12.3 |
| Santa Fe Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 617 | 11.0 |
| California Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 584 | 13.0 |
| Pioneer Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 582 | 11.4 |
Towns near Olathe
- Lenexa, KS5.8 mi · 57,434 people · home $394,900
- Overland Park, KS7.0 mi · 197,238 people · home $413,600
- Gardner, KS7.4 mi · 23,287 people · home $306,200
- Spring Hill, KS8.7 mi · 7,952 people · home $357,800
- Shawnee, KS9.4 mi · 67,311 people · home $359,700
- De Soto, KS9.8 mi · 6,118 people · home $422,400
- Leawood, KS10.6 mi · 33,902 people · home $658,800
- Merriam, KS11.6 mi · 11,098 people · home $263,300
Olathe questions
Is Olathe, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olathe scores better for retirees than 16% of Kansas towns and quieter than 5%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Olathe?
The median owner-occupied home in Olathe is valued at $364,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,009, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,314 a month.
What is the weather like in Olathe?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 13.8 inches of snow.
Does Olathe get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olathe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 20, 1957. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)