Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
New York, NY
🏆 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
New York
New York
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ 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 $441k less ($291,400 vs $732,100)
78% less violent crime than New York
Households earn $26,840 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
New York, NY
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $26,840/yr
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$26,840
$103,447 vs $76,607/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
78% lower
149.4 vs 671.0 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$441k less
$291,400 vs $732,100
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 19 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 19 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $732,100 median home), income ($103,447 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and New York, NY are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.