Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories
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
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
79% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Households earn $40,333 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($204,800 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,295)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $40,333/yr
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.0 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$40,333
$103,447 vs $63,114/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
79% lower
149.4 vs 707.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$87k less
$204,800 vs $291,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 94.0 |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 42.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 60.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 17 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 6. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $204,800 median home), income ($103,447 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Lee's Summit, MO vs O'Fallon, MO
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Lee's Summit, MO vs Independence, MO
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Memphis, TN
Lee's Summit, MO vs Columbia, MO
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Detroit, MI
Lee's Summit, MO vs Springfield, MO
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Las Vegas, NV