Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Palmdale, 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 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Palmdale
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
73% less violent crime than Palmdale
Homes cost $106k less ($291,400 vs $397,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $25,033 more per year on average
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $25,033/yr
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lee's Summit
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 Income
$25,033
$103,447 vs $78,414/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
73% lower
149.4 vs 551.0 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$106k less
$291,400 vs $397,500
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 66.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Palmdale'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 Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $397,500 median home), income ($103,447 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Palmdale, CA are about 1,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.