Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 18 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
18
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($212,500 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $134/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,295)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $40,453/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $40,453 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Columbus
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.8%)
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
Columbus
Median Home Value
$79k less
$212,500 vs $291,400
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$40,453
$103,447 vs $62,994/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
66% lower
149.4 vs 434.9 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 39.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 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 18 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 5 and Lee's Summit wins 18. 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 Columbus to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $291,400 median home), income ($62,994 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Lee's Summit, MO are about 612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.