Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 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
Population
101,728 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($291,400 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $566/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,861)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
43% less violent crime than Lee's Summit
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lee's Summit
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$5,568
$103,447 vs $97,879/yr
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$200k less
$291,400 vs $491,800
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Violent Crime
43% lower
85.0 vs 149.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $97,879 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 17 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $491,800 median home), income ($103,447 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Norwalk, CT are about 1,117 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.