Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $29,377/yr
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
80% less violent crime than Charlotte
Households earn $29,377 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,399)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$29,377
$103,447 vs $74,070/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
80% lower
149.4 vs 733.2 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$21k less
$291,400 vs $312,800
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $291,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Lee's Summit, MO are about 789 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.