Lee's Summit receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Merriam
Lee's Summit
Opportunity
57 · Top 48%
vs88 · Top 1%
Growth
27 · Bottom 14%
vs74 · Top 12%
Climate
66 · Bottom 36%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
83 · Top 19%
vs72 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 30%
vs96 · Top 16%
Access
91 · Bottom 47%
vs83 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability
77 · Top 13%
vs76 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Merriam | Lee's Summit | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,085 | 103,656 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,600 | $102,531 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,272 | $48,894 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,568/sq mi | 1,622/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $263,300 | $340,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,181 | $1,422 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.7% | 73.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.3% | 0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.6% | 48.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 5.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2 | 926 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.2 | 8.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -99.2% | -17.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 38.1" | 38.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 31 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 26.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Merriam
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Lee's Summit
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Merriam
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Lee's Summit
79
Your Score
79
Area Score
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Full profiles: Merriam, KS · Lee's Summit, MO · How this is calculated: methodology