Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $23,204/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $628k less ($291,400 vs $919,700)
54% less violent crime than Boulder
Rent averages $558/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,853)
Households earn $23,204 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$23,204
$103,447 vs $80,243/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
54% lower
149.4 vs 322.3 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$628k less
$291,400 vs $919,700
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 6 and Lee's Summit wins 17. 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 Boulder to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $291,400 median home), income ($80,243 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Lee's Summit, MO are about 584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.