Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 19 of 23 categories
Downey
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
19
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) 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 $388k less ($291,400 vs $679,000)
68% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $519/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,814)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Households earn $19,211 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$19,211
$103,447 vs $84,236/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
68% lower
149.4 vs 460.5 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$388k less
$291,400 vs $679,000
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | C+ (88) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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 19 of 23 categories. Downey wins 4 and Lee's Summit wins 19. 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 Downey to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $291,400 median home), income ($84,236 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.