Lee's Summit MO vs Winston-Salem NC — 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%

Winston-Salem, NC

North Carolina · Population: 118,578

  • Median HH Income$63,900
  • Median Home Price$265,013
  • Unemployment4.6%
  • Bachelor's+45.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lee's Summit
102,583
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lee's Summit
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Lee's Summit
38.6
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
Lee's Summit
4.2%
Winston-Salem
5.7%
Winston-Salem +
White
Lee's Summit
78.7%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Black
Lee's Summit
10.2%
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Winston-Salem +
Asian
Lee's Summit
1.9%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Lee's Summit
5.3%
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Winston-Salem +
Spanish at Home
Lee's Summit
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lee's Summit
$104,989
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Lee's Summit
$48,687
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lee's Summit
$58,527
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Winston-Salem +
Unemployment Rate
Lee's Summit
3.9%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Poverty Rate
Lee's Summit
5.5%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Lee's Summit
48.7%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
45.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lee's Summit
$313,200
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Lee's Summit
73.6%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
46.8%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
501
Winston-Salem
398
Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lee's Summit
2418
Winston-Salem
1999
Winston-Salem +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
32.6%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
9.5%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lee's Summit
16.7%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
6.4%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
18.5%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lee's Summit
11.9%
Lee's Summit +
Winston-Salem
14.4%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lee's Summit
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lee's Summit
26.9 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +

Which City is Right for You?

Lee's Summit leads in median household income at $104,989, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Winston-Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in Lee's Summit. Lee's Summit has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Winston-Salem has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 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 & Winston-Salem