Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Sunnyvale, 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
Sunnyvale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ 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 $1389k less ($291,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1695/mo less ($1,295 vs $2,990)
39% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $71,059/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,059 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lee's Summit
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
39% lower
149.4 vs 244.5 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$1389k less
$291,400 vs $1,680,700
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$71,059
$174,506 vs $103,447/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 14 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($103,447 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.