Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Santa Clarita
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
225,850 ✓ 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 $378k less ($291,400 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1020/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,315)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $12,739/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Households earn $12,739 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/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
10% lower
149.4 vs 165.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$378k less
$291,400 vs $669,200
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$12,739
$116,186 vs $103,447/yr
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Santa Clarita, 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 | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 38.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Santa Clarita'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 15 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 15 and Santa Clarita wins 8. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $669,200 median home), income ($103,447 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.