Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
17
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($291,400 vs $546,200)
70% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $752/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,047)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$4,590
$103,447 vs $98,857/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
70% lower
149.4 vs 498.0 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$255k less
$291,400 vs $546,200
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 6 and Lee's Summit wins 17. 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 Fairfield to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $291,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.