Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612 ✓ 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.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lee's Summit
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($291,400 vs $452,300)
53% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,797)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$4,556
$103,447 vs $98,891/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
53% lower
149.4 vs 317.7 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$161k less
$291,400 vs $452,300
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $291,400 median home), income ($98,891 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,521 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.