Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 12 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
12
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.
College Station, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,295)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $51,050/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $51,050 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 88.3°F
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$51,050
$103,447 vs $52,397/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
12% lower
149.4 vs 170.5 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$14k less
$291,400 vs $305,800
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A (118) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
College Station is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 12 of 23 categories. College Station wins 11 and Lee's Summit wins 12. 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 College Station to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $291,400 median home), income ($52,397 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Lee's Summit, MO are about 586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.