Overland Park KS vs Tucson AZ — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Overland Park, KS

Kansas · Population: 143,720

  • Median HH Income$112,232
  • Median Home Price$487,466
  • Unemployment2.8%
  • Bachelor's+49.4%

Tucson, AZ

Arizona · Population: 543,348

  • Median HH Income$54,546
  • Median Home Price$324,946
  • Unemployment6.4%
  • Bachelor's+30.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Overland Park
143,720
Tucson
543,348
Tucson +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Overland Park
N/A
Tucson
N/A
Median Age
Overland Park
36.6
Tucson
34.6
Tucson +
Foreign Born
Overland Park
10.7%
Tucson
13.7%
Tucson +
White
Overland Park
78.6%
Overland Park +
Tucson
58.2%
Black
Overland Park
4.9%
Tucson
5.0%
Tucson +
Asian
Overland Park
4.2%
Overland Park +
Tucson
3.1%
Hispanic
Overland Park
12.6%
Tucson
42.7%
Tucson +
Spanish at Home
Overland Park
N/A
Tucson
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Overland Park
$112,232
Overland Park +
Tucson
$54,546
Per Capita Income
Overland Park
$48,655
Overland Park +
Tucson
$31,152
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Overland Park
$61,860
Overland Park +
Tucson
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Overland Park
2.8%
Overland Park +
Tucson
6.4%
Poverty Rate
Overland Park
5.6%
Overland Park +
Tucson
18.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Overland Park
49.4%
Overland Park +
Tucson
30.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Overland Park
$487,466
Tucson
$324,946
Tucson +
Homeownership Rate
Overland Park
73.7%
Overland Park +
Tucson
51.7%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Overland Park
449
Overland Park +
Tucson
450
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Overland Park
2174
Tucson
2150
Tucson +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
30.0%
Overland Park +
Tucson
33.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
9.2%
Overland Park +
Tucson
11.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Overland Park
12.8%
Overland Park +
Tucson
18.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
6.2%
Overland Park +
Tucson
15.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
16.9%
Tucson
14.6%
Tucson +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Overland Park
9.0%
Overland Park +
Tucson
12.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Overland Park
N/A
Tucson
69.8°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Overland Park
N/A
Tucson
12.2 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Overland Park
8.2 µg/m³
Tucson
7.1 µg/m³
Tucson +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Overland Park
75.0%
Tucson
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Overland Park
22.4 min
Overland Park +
Tucson
23.9 min

Which City is Right for You?

Overland Park leads in median household income at $112,232, while tucson offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $324,946. On public safety, Overland Park is safer with a violent crime rate of 449 per 100,000 residents, compared to 450 in Tucson. Overland Park has a lower unemployment rate at 2.8%, and Tucson has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Overland Park scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Overland Park & Tucson