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

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 +

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 +

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 +

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%

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

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%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lakewood
28.6 min
Lee's Summit
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%.

Compare More Cities

About Lakewood & Lee's Summit