Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
16
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $17,594/yr
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($291,400 vs $540,400)
85% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,665)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,594 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$17,594
$103,447 vs $85,853/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
85% lower
149.4 vs 993.0 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$249k less
$291,400 vs $540,400
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories. Denver 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 Denver to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $291,400 median home), income ($85,853 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Lee's Summit, MO are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.