Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 13 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
101,728
Meridian
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ 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 $134k less ($291,400 vs $425,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,548)
Households earn $10,151 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $10,151/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$10,151
$103,447 vs $93,296/yr
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$134k less
$291,400 vs $425,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Meridian
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.7% vs 3.8% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $93,296 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 96.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 13 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 13 and Meridian wins 10. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $425,800 median home), income ($103,447 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Meridian, ID are about 1,184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.