Highlands Ranch vs Lee's Summit: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Highlands Ranch, CO and Lee's Summit, MO, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricHighlands Ranch, COLee's Summit, MO
Population101,514101,728
Median household income$148,227$103,447
Median home value$637,400$291,400
Median rent (/mo)$2,353$1,295

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Highlands Ranch, CO and Lee's Summit, MO comes down to what you value most. Lee's Summit has the lower median home value, and Lee's Summit has the lower median rent.

Highlands Ranch has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Highlands Ranch or Lee's Summit?
By median home value, Lee's Summit is the cheaper of the two ($291,400 vs $637,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Highlands Ranch or Lee's Summit?
Median household income is $148,227 in Highlands Ranch versus $103,447 in Lee's Summit, per the US Census Bureau.

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