City Comparison
Salina vs Overland Park
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Overland Park scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Salina
Overland Park
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Salina is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
22% lower than in Overland Park.
Housing costs are a major driver: Salina's average rent is
37% lower than Overland Park's.
| Metric | Salina | Overland Park | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $920 | $1,450 | -37% |
| Groceries | $400 | $420 | -5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $175 | +3% |
| Transport | $120 | $115 | +4% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $230 | +9% |
| Monthly Total | $1,870 | $2,390 | -22% |
| Cost Index | 82 | 102 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Overland Park offers 16% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Salina delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Salina is estimated at
$36,792 vs $58,000 in Overland Park.
| Metric | Salina | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,745 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $36,792 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 80,177 idx | 76,471 idx |
| Household Income | $61,783 | $95,450 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.4°F of each other.
For sunshine, Salina comes out ahead with 14 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Overland Park sees 1.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Salina | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 57.30°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 88.10°F | 86.10°F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | 22.20°F |
| Rainfall | 26.10 in | 42.60 in |
| Snowfall | 16.20 in | 18.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | 266 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Salina has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Overland Park.
Overland Park scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Overland Park leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Salina | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 15 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 39.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Overland Park is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Salina.
From a growth perspective, Overland Park is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Overland Park has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Salina | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,307 | 197,238 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 38.4 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 2.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Salina
Advantages
Affordable cost of living, with housing costs significantly below the national average.
Diverse and robust economy with key industries in manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture.
Shorter than average commute times, with an average of 14.8 minutes.
Strong sense of community and family-friendly atmosphere.
Regional healthcare and educational hub for North Central Kansas.
Drawbacks
Car-dependent with limited public transportation and low walkability scores.
Crime rates, particularly violent crime, are higher than the national average.
Limited entertainment and dining options compared to larger cities.
Population has shown a declining trend in recent years.
Property crime rate remains above the Kansas average.
Overland Park
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest large cities in Kansas with low violent crime rates per FBI crime data.
Home to top-performing public school districts within Johnson County, attracting families from across the region.
Robust local economy anchored by major engineering, technology, and healthcare corporations.
Extensive park system featuring over 80 parks, athletic fields, and the 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum.
Vibrant and growing culinary, arts, and shopping scene centered around Downtown Overland Park and Prairiefire.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and housing prices are higher than the Kansas state average and national medians in certain sectors.
High automobile dependency with limited fixed-rail public transit options across the suburban expanse.
Property taxes in Johnson County can be relatively high for homeowners.
Humid continental climate brings hot summer peaks and cold winter freezes, requiring climate-controlled infrastructure.
Traffic congestion can spike during peak commute hours along major thoroughfares like I-435 and US-69.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Salina
#129Kansas, USA
66.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$920
Avg Salary
$65,745
Cost Index
82
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
39.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
57.30°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
74
Business
68
Overland Park
#63Kansas, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
266/yr
Avg Temp
56.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
85
Business
79
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