Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ 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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($192,000 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($893 vs $1,295)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $54,256/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $54,256 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$99k less
$192,000 vs $291,400
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$54,256
$103,447 vs $49,191/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
82% lower
149.4 vs 845.6 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $291,400 median home), income ($49,191 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Lee's Summit, MO are about 530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.