Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lee's Summit, MO
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories
Lee's Summit
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $56,190 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $315/mo less ($980 vs $1,295)
Homes cost $63k less ($228,300 vs $291,400)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lee's Summit
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $56,190/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$56,190
$103,447 vs $47,257/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
73% lower
149.4 vs 553.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$63k less
$228,300 vs $291,400
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lee's Summit, MO | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,400 | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,295 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,447 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 67 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.0°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,728 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.1% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee's Summit's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories. Lee's Summit wins 15 and Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($103,447 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lee's Summit, MO and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.