Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
15
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.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $49k less ($242,500 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,295)
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $17,449/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
44% less violent crime than Elgin
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,449 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Home Value
$49k less
$242,500 vs $291,400
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$17,449
$103,447 vs $85,998/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
44% lower
149.4 vs 266.7 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.0% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 39.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 8 and Lee's Summit wins 15. 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 Elgin to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $291,400 median home), income ($85,998 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Lee's Summit, MO are about 384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.