Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories
Hesperia
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $35,749/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lee's Summit
Pricier housing — median home is $337,600
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
71% less violent crime than Hesperia
Households earn $35,749 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
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
Hesperia
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 88.3°F
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$35,749
$103,447 vs $67,698/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
71% lower
149.4 vs 519.6 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$46k less
$291,400 vs $337,600
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 101,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Hesperia 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 Hesperia to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $291,400 median home), income ($67,698 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.