Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 19 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Long Beach
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($291,400 vs $709,700)
78% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $403/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,698)
Households earn $24,452 more per year on average
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $24,452/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$24,452
$103,447 vs $78,995/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
78% lower
149.4 vs 676.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$418k less
$291,400 vs $709,700
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 19 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 19 and Long Beach wins 4. 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 Lee's Summit to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $709,700 median home), income ($103,447 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Long Beach, CA are about 1,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.