What it's like to live in Overland Park
Overland Park is a large city in Kansas with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Overland Park deals with cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Several well-rated hospitals
The not so good
- Cold winters
How Overland Park compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Overland Park
Based on Overland Park's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,030
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $60,600 a year
- 41% of Overland Park renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,360
- Homes cost 3.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,515/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,515 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $413,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $413,600 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 51% below US
161 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1468/100k · Overland Park Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 24% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
5 hospitals
There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.8 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 77% above US
64% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
48 public schools inside the boundary
There are 48 public schools inside the boundary and 12 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Harry S Truman National Historic Site (10 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Overland Park's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoff is cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,515/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Overland Park
All Kansas guides →Moving to Leawood →
4 mi away · pop. 33,809
Rent $1,983/mo · Income $185,625
Compare with Overland Park →Moving to Olathe →
7 mi away · pop. 145,057
Rent $1,314/mo · Income $114,009
Compare with Overland Park →Moving to Prairie Village →
7 mi away · pop. 22,874
Rent $1,794/mo · Income $113,530
Compare with Overland Park →Moving to Lenexa →
8 mi away · pop. 58,384
Rent $1,454/mo · Income $103,239
Compare with Overland Park →Not sure Overland Park is the one?
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