Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
16
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $32,080/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lee's Summit
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
82% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $32,080 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.8%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Homes cost $77k less ($291,400 vs $368,800)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 88.3°F
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$32,080
$103,447 vs $71,367/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
82% lower
149.4 vs 834.7 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$77k less
$291,400 vs $368,800
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 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 | 220⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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 16 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 7 and Lee's Summit wins 16. 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 Lancaster to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $291,400 median home), income ($71,367 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.