Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 12 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
101,728 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $592k less ($291,400 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1327/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,622)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $33,123/yr
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Lee's Summit
Households earn $33,123 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lee's Summit
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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 Home Value
$592k less
$291,400 vs $883,600
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$33,123
$136,570 vs $103,447/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
34% lower
99.2 vs 149.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 12 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 11 and Mission Viejo wins 12. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $883,600 median home), income ($103,447 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.