Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 19 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Tacoma
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
86% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $124k less ($291,400 vs $415,300)
Households earn $24,362 more per year on average
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $24,362/yr
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lee's Summit
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$24,362
$103,447 vs $79,085/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
86% lower
149.4 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$124k less
$291,400 vs $415,300
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Lee's Summit
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 19 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 19 and Tacoma wins 4. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($103,447 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Tacoma, WA are about 1,519 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.