Lakewood CO 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)
Lakewood, CO
Colorado · Population: 156,309
- Median HH Income$85,789
- Median Home Price$575,076
- Unemployment4.5%
- Bachelor's+45.3%
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
Lakewood
156,309
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
102,583
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lakewood
N/A
Lee's Summit
N/A
Median Age
Lakewood
38.0
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
38.6
Foreign Born
Lakewood
8.5%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
4.2%
White
Lakewood
76.0%
Lee's Summit
78.7%
Lee's Summit +
Black
Lakewood
1.4%
Lee's Summit
10.2%
Lee's Summit +
Asian
Lakewood
4.1%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
1.9%
Hispanic
Lakewood
22.4%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
5.3%
Spanish at Home
Lakewood
N/A
Lee's Summit
N/A
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 156,309 | 102,583 | Lakewood + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 38.6 | Lakewood + |
| Foreign Born | 8.5% | 4.2% | Lakewood + |
| White | 76.0% | 78.7% | Lee's Summit + |
| Black | 1.4% | 10.2% | Lee's Summit + |
| Asian | 4.1% | 1.9% | Lakewood + |
| Hispanic | 22.4% | 5.3% | Lakewood + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Lakewood
$85,789
Lee's Summit
$104,989
Lee's Summit +
Per Capita Income
Lakewood
$51,218
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
$48,687
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lakewood
$76,653
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
$58,527
Unemployment Rate
Lakewood
4.5%
Lee's Summit
3.9%
Lee's Summit +
Poverty Rate
Lakewood
9.1%
Lee's Summit
5.5%
Lee's Summit +
Bachelor's Degree+
Lakewood
45.3%
Lee's Summit
48.7%
Lee's Summit +
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $85,789 | $104,989 | Lee's Summit + |
| Per Capita Income | $51,218 | $48,687 | Lakewood + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $76,653 | $58,527 | Lakewood + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 3.9% | Lee's Summit + |
| Poverty Rate | 9.1% | 5.5% | Lee's Summit + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 45.3% | 48.7% | Lee's Summit + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lakewood
$575,076
Lee's Summit
$313,200
Lee's Summit +
Homeownership Rate
Lakewood
58.1%
Lee's Summit
73.6%
Lee's Summit +
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $575,076 | $313,200 | Lee's Summit + |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% | 73.6% | Lee's Summit + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lakewood
512
Lee's Summit
501
Lee's Summit +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lakewood
3234
Lee's Summit
2418
Lee's Summit +
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 512 | 501 | Lee's Summit + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 3234 | 2418 | Lee's Summit + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lakewood
23.8%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
32.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lakewood
8.7%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
9.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lakewood
15.8%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
16.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lakewood
10.6%
Lee's Summit
6.4%
Lee's Summit +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lakewood
19.7%
Lee's Summit
18.5%
Lee's Summit +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lakewood
10.7%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
11.9%
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 23.8% | 32.6% | Lakewood + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 8.7% | 9.5% | Lakewood + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.8% | 16.7% | Lakewood + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 6.4% | Lee's Summit + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 19.7% | 18.5% | Lee's Summit + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 10.7% | 11.9% | Lakewood + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lakewood
51.4°F
Lee's Summit
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lakewood
17.3 in
Lee's Summit
N/A
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 51.4°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 17.3 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Lakewood
6.2 µg/m³
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
9.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Lakewood
75.0%
Lakewood +
Lee's Summit
55.0%
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 6.2 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | Lakewood + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Lakewood + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lakewood
28.6 min
Lee's Summit
26.9 min
Lee's Summit +
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lee's Summit, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 28.6 min | 26.9 min | Lee's Summit + |
Which City is Right for You?
Lee's Summit leads in median household income at $104,989, while lee's Summit offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,200. On public safety, Lee's Summit is safer with a violent crime rate of 501 per 100,000 residents, compared to 512 in Lakewood. Lee's Summit has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Lakewood has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 6.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Lakewood scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.8%.
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