Lee's Summit

With its vibrant downtown, superb schools, abundant recreational opportunities and reasonable cost of living, Lee’s Summit is a city attracting a wide range of people: from first-time homebuyers looking for a hip, urban lifestyle, to families seeking quiet suburban living. The city has so much to offer that it can genuinely claim to have something for just about everyone, all while maintaining its small-town atmosphere that is virtually synonymous with America’s heartland. “It is a community committed to infrastructure,” says Realtor Kaleb Drinkgern. “It’s seen phenomenal growth over the last five years without losing its small-town feel.”

The median price of real estate in Lee’s Summit hovers around $401,000, with an average price-per-square-foot of $180. However, the range of home prices is extremely wide. A compact and cozy one-bedroom/one-bathroom bungalow sells for around $138,000, while a sprawling five-bedroom/nine-bathroom contemporary lists for $4.75 million. Options abound for homebuyers, including lakefront, wooded, urban and suburban settings. Whatever your choice, the cost of living in Lee’s Summit is approximately 71% of the national average, making the city more affordable than average. Drinkgern says, “There is a plethora of opportunities for homebuyers from a price-point perspective.”

Parents in Lee’s Summit can rest assured that their children will attend some of the best schools in the state of Missouri, as the Lee’s Summit School District has earned an overall A+ rating on Niche.com. Highland Park Elementary, Summit Lakes Middle and Lee’s Summit North High School all earn an A rating from Niche. Students at Lee’s Summit North can participate in extracurricular activities running the gamut from the Anime Club to Girls Who Code to the Youth Neuroscience Society. Drinkgern describes the area schools as “phenomenal.”

Lee’s Summit has plenty to offer the outdoors enthusiast, with 32 parks, over 90 miles of hiking and biking trails and several lakes. Whether it’s hiking the North Shore Trail near Blue Springs Lake, fishing in Prairie Lee Lake, golfing at the Lakewood Oaks Country Club or taking the dog to one of the city’s dog parks, the city does not disappoint when it comes to outdoor recreational opportunities.

When it comes time to stock up on groceries, you’ll find plenty of places from which to choose. In addition to chain stores like Hy-Vee and Aldi, you’ll find local options, too. Sprouts Farmers Market sells natural and organic foods, and McKeever’s Market & Eatery offers fresh meat, produce and baked goods, as well as providing a full-service florist and deli.

Foodies will rejoice at the range of dining options in Lee’s Summit. Breakfast specials at Neighborhood Café are a popular choice, and Ginger Sue’s pancakes, waffles and homemade bread get high marks from local diners. Jack Stack Barbecue serves up some of the best ribs and brisket you’ll find anywhere, while Third Street Social’s menu tempts with local favorites like fried catfish, meatloaf and braised pork shoulder. If you can eat it, chances are you’ll find it in Lee’s Summit.

When it comes to shopping, Lee’s Summit is home to local boutiques, major department stores and everything in between. In the bustling downtown sector, shoppers will find collectibles, accessories and jewelry at Local Foundery, while oenophiles can sample their favorite wines at Red Door Wine Store. There are multiple Walmart Super Centers located throughout the city, as well as Target, T.J. Maxx and others. For those times when nothing but a big-city shopping experience will fulfill your need for retail therapy, Kansas City is only 20 miles away. With easy access to Interstate 70, getting there and back is no problem at all.

When talking about a city as vibrant and exciting as Lee’s Summit, it’s sometimes hard to convey the true spirit of the place in words. In those instances, it’s really best to experience the town in-person. If you’re looking for a home in an exciting area that offers world-class schools and amenities but still has a lower-than-average cost of living, you need to check out Lee’s Summit. The town has all of that and more.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Eric Bowers

Video By

Tyler Belile