Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 12 of 23 categories
Irvine
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
101,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Lee's Summit
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $19,501 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lee's Summit
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $734k less ($291,400 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1454/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,749)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
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)
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $19,501/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$19,501
$122,948 vs $103,447/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
44% lower
84.0 vs 149.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$734k less
$291,400 vs $1,025,700
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $103,447 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 12 of 23 categories. Irvine wins 11 and Lee's Summit wins 12. 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 Irvine to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $291,400 median home), income ($122,948 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.