Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Lee's Summit
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $38,968/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
71% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Households earn $38,968 more per year on average
Homes cost $175k less ($291,400 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 88.3°F
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$38,968
$103,447 vs $64,479/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
71% lower
149.4 vs 518.1 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$175k less
$291,400 vs $466,300
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 101,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 7 and Lee's Summit wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arden-Arcade to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $291,400 median home), income ($64,479 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,449 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.