City Comparison
Hays 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
Hays
Overland Park
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hays is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
28% lower than in Overland Park.
Housing costs are a major driver: Hays's average rent is
41% lower than Overland Park's.
| Metric | Hays | Overland Park | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $1,450 | -41% |
| Groceries | $380 | $420 | -10% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $115 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $230 | -9% |
| Monthly Total | $1,725 | $2,390 | -28% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 102 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Overland Park offers 31% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Overland Park delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Hays is estimated at
$45,000 vs $58,000 in Overland Park.
| Metric | Hays | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,364 idx | 76,471 idx |
| Household Income | $58,500 | $95,450 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.3°F of each other.
For sunshine, Hays comes out ahead with 17 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Overland Park sees 3.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Hays | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.60°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 87.20°F | 86.10°F |
| Winter Low | 21.50°F | 22.20°F |
| Rainfall | 27.80 in | 42.60 in |
| Snowfall | 14.90 in | 18.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 283 | 266 |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Hays has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 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, Hays leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Hays | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 14 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 22.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Overland Park is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Hays.
From a growth perspective, Overland Park is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Hays | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,100 | 197,238 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.4 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 2.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Hays
Advantages
Median home prices in Hays remain significantly more affordable than the national average per recent housing data.
Hays Medical Center and Fort Hays State University provide robust employment and economic stability for the region.
Crime rates in Hays are consistently well below national averages, ensuring a safe family environment.
Average commute times are exceptionally short, typically under 15 minutes across the city.
The local economy features a lower-than-average unemployment rate supported by diverse industries.
Drawbacks
Geographic isolation from major metropolitan hubs requires significant travel for specialized entertainment or shopping.
Extreme continental weather brings hot summers and cold, windy winters with occasional severe storms.
Limited public transportation options make owning a personal vehicle essentially mandatory.
Regional dining and retail options, while growing, are more limited compared to larger Kansas cities.
Rental vacancy rates can tighten during the academic year due to the influx of university students.
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.
Hays
#93Kansas, USA
67.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
283/yr
Avg Temp
56.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
78
Business
70
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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