Huntsville AL vs Lee's Summit MO — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Huntsville, AL

Alabama · Population: 218,814

  • Median HH Income$70,778
  • Median Home Price$288,707
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+46.2%

Lee's Summit, MO

Missouri · Population: 102,583

  • Median HH Income$104,989
  • Median Home Price$313,200
  • Unemployment3.9%
  • Bachelor's+48.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Huntsville
218,814
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
102,583
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Huntsville
N/A
Lee's Summit
N/A
Median Age
Huntsville
36.4
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
38.6
Foreign Born
Huntsville
6.6%
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
4.2%
White
Huntsville
58.4%
Lee's Summit
78.7%
Lee's Summit +
Black
Huntsville
29.7%
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
10.2%
Asian
Huntsville
2.0%
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
1.9%
Hispanic
Huntsville
8.1%
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
5.3%
Spanish at Home
Huntsville
N/A
Lee's Summit
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Huntsville
$70,778
Lee's Summit
$104,989
Lee's Summit +
Per Capita Income
Huntsville
$44,733
Lee's Summit
$48,687
Lee's Summit +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Huntsville
$51,690
Lee's Summit
$58,527
Lee's Summit +
Unemployment Rate
Huntsville
4.3%
Lee's Summit
3.9%
Lee's Summit +
Poverty Rate
Huntsville
13.8%
Lee's Summit
5.5%
Lee's Summit +
Bachelor's Degree+
Huntsville
46.2%
Lee's Summit
48.7%
Lee's Summit +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Huntsville
$288,707
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
$313,200
Homeownership Rate
Huntsville
58.1%
Lee's Summit
73.6%
Lee's Summit +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Huntsville
400
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
501
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Huntsville
1734
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
2418

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Huntsville
40.7%
Lee's Summit
32.6%
Lee's Summit +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Huntsville
12.7%
Lee's Summit
9.5%
Lee's Summit +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Huntsville
16.4%
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
16.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Huntsville
9.6%
Lee's Summit
6.4%
Lee's Summit +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Huntsville
14.2%
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
18.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Huntsville
12.6%
Lee's Summit
11.9%
Lee's Summit +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Huntsville
62.1°F
Lee's Summit
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Huntsville
54.3 in
Lee's Summit
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Huntsville
8.8 µg/m³
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
9.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Huntsville
75.0%
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Huntsville
21.0 min
Huntsville +
Lee's Summit
26.9 min

Which City is Right for You?

Lee's Summit leads in median household income at $104,989, while huntsville offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $288,707. On public safety, Huntsville is safer with a violent crime rate of 400 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in Lee's Summit. Lee's Summit has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Huntsville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.8 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Lee's Summit scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Huntsville & Lee's Summit