Lee's Summit MO vs Tacoma WA — 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%

Tacoma, WA

Washington · Population: 220,482

  • Median HH Income$83,857
  • Median Home Price$496,966
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+33.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lee's Summit
102,583
Tacoma
220,482
Tacoma +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lee's Summit
N/A
Tacoma
N/A
Median Age
Lee's Summit
38.6
Tacoma
37.3
Tacoma +
Foreign Born
Lee's Summit
4.2%
Tacoma
12.2%
Tacoma +
White
Lee's Summit
78.7%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
59.4%
Black
Lee's Summit
10.2%
Tacoma
10.5%
Tacoma +
Asian
Lee's Summit
1.9%
Tacoma
8.8%
Tacoma +
Hispanic
Lee's Summit
5.3%
Tacoma
13.1%
Tacoma +
Spanish at Home
Lee's Summit
N/A
Tacoma
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lee's Summit
$104,989
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
$83,857
Per Capita Income
Lee's Summit
$48,687
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
$44,756
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lee's Summit
$58,527
Tacoma
$76,120
Tacoma +
Unemployment Rate
Lee's Summit
3.9%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
5.3%
Poverty Rate
Lee's Summit
5.5%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
12.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
Lee's Summit
48.7%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
33.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lee's Summit
$313,200
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
$496,966
Homeownership Rate
Lee's Summit
73.6%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
56.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
501
Tacoma
383
Tacoma +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
2418
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
3409

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
32.6%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
37.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
9.5%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
10.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lee's Summit
16.7%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
18.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
6.4%
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
9.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
18.5%
Tacoma
16.8%
Tacoma +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
11.9%
Tacoma
11.9%
Tie

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
Tacoma
53.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
Tacoma
39.2 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lee's Summit
26.9 min
Lee's Summit +
Tacoma
31.1 min

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, Tacoma is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in Lee's Summit. Lee's Summit has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Tacoma has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Lee's Summit scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Lee's Summit & Tacoma