Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $33,940 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($291,400 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $932/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,227)
41% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $33,940/yr
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$33,940
$137,387 vs $103,447/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.8% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
41% lower
149.4 vs 254.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$542k less
$291,400 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $103,447 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A (118) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 10 and Lee's Summit wins 13. 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 Arlington to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $291,400 median home), income ($137,387 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 928 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.