Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
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.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,295)
Homes cost $57k less ($234,900 vs $291,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lee's Summit
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $44,597/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $44,597 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$57k less
$234,900 vs $291,400
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$44,597
$103,447 vs $58,850/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
86% lower
149.4 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 9 and Lee's Summit wins 14. 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 Lafayette to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $291,400 median home), income ($58,850 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.