Moving from Chesapeake, VA to Lee's Summit, MO

It is 1170 mi between Chesapeake and Lee's Summit β€” roughly 22h 2m of driving, plus rest stops and overnight, through 6 state(s). A long-haul move crosses climate zones and usually state-income-tax lines. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data into a side-by-side comparison so the differences are easy to scan.

1170 mi Β· 22h 2m by car Β· VA β†’ WV β†’ KY β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ MO

COL -5.5% Home values -7.3% Ξ” -7.3Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1170 mi
Drive time
22h 2m
States
6
Fuel (25 mpg)
47 gal
Route throughVA β†’ WV β†’ KY β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ MO
Primary highwaysI 64, I 70, SR 62
Major cities en routeVirginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Richmond

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

ChesapeakeLee's SummitU.S. avg
All items (RPP)97.94192.543100.0
Rents89.57989.034100.0
Goods96.76794.12100.0
Services99.80586.642100.0

Moderate COL drop: 5.5% cheaper overall in Lee's Summit than Chesapeake on the 2024 BEA RPP.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Chesapeake β€” typical home
$420,756
Lee's Summit β€” typical home
$390,166
Chesapeake β€” typical rent
$2,031/mo
Lee's Summit β€” typical rent
$1,634/mo

Housing comes in 5.5% under Chesapeake β€” $420,756 β†’ $390,166 on the latest ZHVI.

YoY change: Chesapeake +2.9%, Lee's Summit +2.1%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsChesapeakeLee's Summit
Annual avg temperature63Β°F56Β°F
January avg low34Β°F22Β°F
July avg high93Β°F88Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation48.6"38.3"

Annual temperature drops 7.3Β°F moving to Lee's Summit per NOAA normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: FENTRESS NAAS, VA US, LEES SUMMIT MUNI AP, MO US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023ChesapeakeLee's Summit
Population251,153102,583
Median household income$94,189$104,989
Median age37.738.6
Bachelor's degree or higher22.4%29.5%
Avg household size2.722.6

Households in Lee's Summit earn about 5.5% more at the median β€” ACS 5-year 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Chesapeake MSA β€” median wage
$46,990
Lee's Summit MSA β€” median wage
$48,040
Chesapeake MSA β€” employment
737,200
Lee's Summit MSA β€” employment
1,078,310

Top occupations in Lee's Summit MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 133,580 $43,640
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 105,080 $42,090
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 95,130 $29,920
Sales and Related Occupations 94,940 $36,640
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 77,380 $75,790

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Virginia and Missouri

Virginia income tax
5.75% top marginal
Missouri income tax
4.7% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Missouri's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • I-64 across Afton Mountain and I-77 at Fancy Gap see chain requirements in winter storms.
  • I-77 at Flat Top Mountain and I-64 through the Greenbrier Valley see chain requirements in winter storms.
  • I-75 at Jellico Mountain (KY/TN border) sees chain requirements in winter storms.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Tornadoes are common April through June β€” identify a safe room or interior space on day one.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Missouri after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How does the job market in Lee's Summit compare to Chesapeake?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,040 in the Lee's Summit MSA vs $46,990 in the Chesapeake MSA, on total employment of 1,078,310 and 737,200 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How much do homes cost in Lee's Summit compared to Chesapeake?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $390,166 in Lee's Summit vs $420,756 in Chesapeake β€” a 7.3% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How far is Lee's Summit, MO from Chesapeake, VA?

The driving distance is 1170 mi and the route typically takes 22h 2m via I 64 and I 70. The trip crosses 6 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

When is the best time to move from Chesapeake to Lee's Summit?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1170 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Is Lee's Summit more expensive than Chesapeake?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Lee's Summit is 5.5% lower than Chesapeake (92.543 vs 97.941, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How does household income compare in Chesapeake vs Lee's Summit?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $104,989 in Lee's Summit vs $94,189 in Chesapeake β€” a 11.5% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Chesapeake.

City profiles: Chesapeake, VA Β· Lee's Summit, MO.

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