Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
101,728
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $88k less ($291,400 vs $379,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Households earn $9,085 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lee's Summit
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$9,085
$103,447 vs $94,362/yr
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$88k less
$291,400 vs $379,800
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $94,362 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 10 and Richardson wins 13. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $379,800 median home), income ($103,447 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Richardson, TX are about 431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.