Lee's Summit 77 Exceptional
Lee's Summit Livability #30 ranked city in Missouri#2,846 ranked city in the USARanks better than 90% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Lee's Summit

PROS
  • Employment Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

  • Schools Schools

    A high score in the schools category could be the result of elements like top-notch test scores, high education levels and the convenient location of elementary and high schools in this area.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

What's it like Living in Lee's Summit?

Lee's Summit, Missouri is a mid-sized city with a population of 101,898 inhabitants. According to the most recent Census, 84% of Lee's Summit residents are White, 8% Black and 2% Asian. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Lee's Summit is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 27 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Without the right tools, relocating to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Lee's Summit, Missouri could be a great experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. To help you find the best places to live in and around Lee's Summit, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, commute, health & safety and more.

With a livability score of 78/100, Lee's Summit is ranked #2,100 in the United States and #25 in Missouri. This is a phenomenal score, as Lee's Summit ranks well in multiple categories! Lee's Summit is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Lee's Summit has higher than average rankings for the following: crime (B+), cost of living (B+), education (A-), employment (A+) and housing (A+). Lee's Summit does not score well for the following: amenities (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Crime rates play a pivotal role in the decision-making process for anyone considering a move, as they directly influence the overall sense of safety, security and quality of life in a given location. Lee's Summit shines in this regard, earning exemplary ratings for its exceptionally low violent crime rates, standing at 149 crimes per 100,000 residents. These rates are notably below the national average, underscoring the community's commitment to safety and contributing to an enhanced quality of life.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Lee's Summit excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Lee's Summit is real estate affordability. The median home price for Lee's Summit homes is $427,304, which is 71.2% higher than the Missouri average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lee's Summit, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 8.8% lower than the Missouri average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Lee's Summit

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      Lee's Summit transportation information

      Statistic Lee's Summit Missouri National
      Average one way commute27min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.9%81.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.5%9.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.3%1.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.5%1.9%2.8%
      Working from home10.9%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Lee's Summit, MO data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.