Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Scottsdale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ 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 $360k less ($291,400 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 99°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lee's Summit
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$360k less
$291,400 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$750
$104,197 vs $103,447/yr
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| 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 | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 97.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 9 and Scottsdale wins 14. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $651,800 median home), income ($103,447 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,036 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.