Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $668k less ($291,400 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $973/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,268)
80% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$1,534
$104,981 vs $103,447/yr
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
80% lower
149.4 vs 737.6 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$668k less
$291,400 vs $959,800
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $103,447 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 7 and Lee's Summit wins 16. 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 Costa Mesa to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $291,400 median home), income ($104,981 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.