Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Portland
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ 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 $232k less ($291,400 vs $523,100)
79% less violent crime than Portland
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $17,571 more per year on average
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,530)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $17,571/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$17,571
$103,447 vs $85,876/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
79% lower
149.4 vs 720.1 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$232k less
$291,400 vs $523,100
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Portland's 106.6 (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 Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $523,100 median home), income ($103,447 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Portland, OR are about 1,508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.