Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
14
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($226,200 vs $291,400)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,295)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $49,352/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $49,352 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Home Value
$65k less
$226,200 vs $291,400
Columbia
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.9 on the COL index
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$49,352
$103,447 vs $54,095/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
81% lower
149.4 vs 769.9 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 9 and Lee's Summit wins 14. 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 Columbia to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $291,400 median home), income ($54,095 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Lee's Summit, MO are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.