Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ 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.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($216,600 vs $291,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $144/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,295)
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $59,664/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $59,664 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Gainesville
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$75k less
$216,600 vs $291,400
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 96.9 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$59,664
$103,447 vs $43,783/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
80% lower
149.4 vs 738.0 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories. Gainesville 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 Gainesville to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $291,400 median home), income ($43,783 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Lee's Summit, MO are about 936 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.