Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($87,400 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $444/mo less ($851 vs $1,295)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lee's Summit
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $66,176/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $66,176 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.1 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$204k less
$87,400 vs $291,400
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$66,176
$103,447 vs $37,271/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
90% lower
149.4 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
8.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 11.9% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 39.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Cleveland 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 Cleveland to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $291,400 median home), income ($37,271 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Lee's Summit, MO are about 693 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.