CityCompare

Lee's Summit MO vs Sterling Heights MI — 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%

Sterling Heights, MI

Michigan · Population: 133,473

  • Median HH Income$78,429
  • Median Home Price$309,742
  • Unemployment6.2%
  • Bachelor's+31.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lee's Summit
102,583
Sterling Heights
133,473
Sterling Heights +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lee's Summit
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Median Age
Lee's Summit
38.6
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
41.5
Foreign Born
Lee's Summit
4.2%
Sterling Heights
27.4%
Sterling Heights +
White
Lee's Summit
78.7%
Sterling Heights
78.9%
Sterling Heights +
Black
Lee's Summit
10.2%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
6.6%
Asian
Lee's Summit
1.9%
Sterling Heights
9.0%
Sterling Heights +
Hispanic
Lee's Summit
5.3%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
2.4%
Spanish at Home
Lee's Summit
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lee's Summit
$104,989
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
$78,429
Per Capita Income
Lee's Summit
$48,687
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
$37,315
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lee's Summit
$58,527
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
$58,052
Unemployment Rate
Lee's Summit
3.9%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
6.2%
Poverty Rate
Lee's Summit
5.5%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
10.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Lee's Summit
48.7%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
31.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lee's Summit
$313,200
Sterling Heights
$309,742
Sterling Heights +
Homeownership Rate
Lee's Summit
73.6%
Sterling Heights
76.4%
Sterling Heights +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
501
Sterling Heights
471
Sterling Heights +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
2418
Sterling Heights
1590
Sterling Heights +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
32.6%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
36.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
9.5%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
11.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lee's Summit
16.7%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
17.2%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
6.4%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
6.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
18.5%
Sterling Heights
16.4%
Sterling Heights +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
11.9%
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
15.3%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
Sterling Heights
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lee's Summit
26.9 min
Lee's Summit +
Sterling Heights
27.5 min

Which City is Right for You?

Lee's Summit leads in median household income at $104,989, while sterling Heights offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $309,742. On public safety, Sterling Heights is safer with a violent crime rate of 471 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in Lee's Summit. Lee's Summit has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Lee's Summit has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Lee's Summit scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.6%.

Compare More Cities

Lee's Summit, MO vs New York, NYLee's Summit, MO vs Los Angeles, CAChicago, IL vs Lee's Summit, MOHouston, TX vs Lee's Summit, MOLee's Summit, MO vs Phoenix, AZLee's Summit, MO vs Philadelphia, PA

About Lee's Summit & Sterling Heights

View Lee's Summit MO Profile →View Sterling Heights MI Profile →