Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Orange
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728 ✓ 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 $557k less ($291,400 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $853/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,148)
34% less violent crime than Orange
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $5,888/yr
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Households earn $5,888 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
Violent Crime
34% lower
149.4 vs 226.1 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$557k less
$291,400 vs $848,200
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$5,888
$109,335 vs $103,447/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 16 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 16 and Orange wins 7. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $848,200 median home), income ($103,447 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Orange, CA are about 1,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.