Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $1363k less ($291,400 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $932/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,227)
81% less violent crime than Santa Monica
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $3,350/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 88°F
Households earn $3,350 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
Violent Crime
81% lower
149.4 vs 778.0 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$1363k less
$291,400 vs $1,654,800
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
18.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$3,350
$106,797 vs $103,447/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Santa Monica, 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 | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Santa Monica'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 14 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 14 and Santa Monica wins 9. 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 Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($103,447 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.