Lee's Summit MO vs San Jose CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Lee's Summit, MO

Missouri · Population: 102,583

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

San Jose, CA

California · Population: 990,054

  • Median HH Income$141,565
  • Median Home Price$1,452,609
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+46.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lee's Summit
102,583
San Jose
990,054
San Jose +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lee's Summit
N/A
San Jose
N/A
Median Age
Lee's Summit
38.6
San Jose
38.1
San Jose +
Foreign Born
Lee's Summit
4.2%
San Jose
41.6%
San Jose +
White
Lee's Summit
78.7%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
29.0%
Black
Lee's Summit
10.2%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
2.9%
Asian
Lee's Summit
1.9%
San Jose
38.6%
San Jose +
Hispanic
Lee's Summit
5.3%
San Jose
30.9%
San Jose +
Spanish at Home
Lee's Summit
N/A
San Jose
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lee's Summit
$104,989
San Jose
$141,565
San Jose +
Per Capita Income
Lee's Summit
$48,687
San Jose
$63,253
San Jose +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lee's Summit
$58,527
San Jose
$77,230
San Jose +
Unemployment Rate
Lee's Summit
3.9%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
4.7%
Poverty Rate
Lee's Summit
5.5%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
7.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Lee's Summit
48.7%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
46.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lee's Summit
$313,200
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
$1,452,609
Homeownership Rate
Lee's Summit
73.6%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
56.0%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
501
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
2418
San Jose
2388
San Jose +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
32.6%
San Jose
23.7%
San Jose +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
9.5%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
11.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lee's Summit
16.7%
San Jose
14.9%
San Jose +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
6.4%
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
9.1%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
18.5%
San Jose
13.0%
San Jose +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
11.9%
San Jose
9.4%
San Jose +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
San Jose
61.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
San Jose
14.9 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lee's Summit
26.9 min
Lee's Summit +
San Jose
30.4 min

Which City is Right for You?

San Jose leads in median household income at $141,565, 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 503 in San Jose. Lee's Summit has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and San Jose has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Jose scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.7%.

Compare More Cities

About Lee's Summit & San Jose