Moving from Lee's Summit, MO to Vancouver, WA

A 1822 mi cross-country move between Lee's Summit and Vancouver is 31h 14m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 8 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

1822 mi Β· 31h 14m by car Β· WA β†’ OR β†’ ID β†’ UT β†’ WY β†’ NE β†’ IA β†’ MO

COL +13.9% Home values +30.5% Ξ” -1.7Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1822 mi
Drive time
31h 14m
States
8
Fuel (25 mpg)
73 gal
Route throughWA β†’ OR β†’ ID β†’ UT β†’ WY β†’ NE β†’ IA β†’ MO
Primary highwaysI 80, I 84, US 30
Major cities en routeHillsboro, Portland, Gresham, Meridian, Nampa

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

Cost of living

Lee's SummitVancouverU.S. avg
All items (RPP)92.543105.421100.0
Rents89.034106.974100.0
Goods94.12105.222100.0
Services86.642125.114100.0

Overall prices come in 13.9% above Lee's Summit β€” 92.543 β†’ 105.421 on the BEA RPP.

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

Housing prices

Lee's Summit β€” typical home
$390,166
Vancouver β€” typical home
$509,318
Lee's Summit β€” typical rent
$1,634/mo
Vancouver β€” typical rent
$1,770/mo

13.9% jump on the typical home value β€” a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.

YoY change: Lee's Summit +2.1%, Vancouver -0.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsLee's SummitVancouver
Annual avg temperature56Β°F54Β°F
January avg low22Β°F34Β°F
July avg high88Β°F81Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation38.3"37.5"

No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: LEES SUMMIT MUNI AP, MO US, VANCOUVER PEARSON AP, WA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023Lee's SummitVancouver
Population102,583192,696
Median household income$104,989$78,156
Median age38.637.5
Bachelor's degree or higher29.5%20.1%
Avg household size2.62.42

Vancouver households earn about 13.9% less than Lee's Summit at the median β€” $104,989 β†’ $78,156 on ACS 2023.

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

Jobs & wages

Lee's Summit MSA β€” median wage
$48,040
Vancouver MSA β€” median wage
$55,940
Lee's Summit MSA β€” employment
1,078,310
Vancouver MSA β€” employment
1,206,150

Top occupations in Vancouver MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 141,870 $47,870
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 104,880 $44,260
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 99,580 $34,860
Sales and Related Occupations 96,250 $41,260
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 92,520 $79,400

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Missouri and Washington

Missouri income tax
4.7% top marginal
Washington income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Washington'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

  • Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 and White Pass on US-12 see frequent chain requirements December through March β€” check WSDOT mountain passes report.
  • Cascade passes on I-84 and OR-58 can require chains or close entirely during winter storms.
  • Lookout Pass (I-90) and Galena Summit (SH-75) require winter tires or chains during storms.
  • I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
  • I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April β€” check WYDOT 511 before departure.

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

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Wildfire season east of the Cascades peaks July through September; earthquake preparedness is standard west of the mountains.
  • 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 Washington after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

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

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $509,318 in Vancouver vs $390,166 in Lee's Summit β€” a 30.5% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

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

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $78,156 in Vancouver vs $104,989 in Lee's Summit β€” a 25.6% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

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

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $55,940 in the Vancouver MSA vs $48,040 in the Lee's Summit MSA, on total employment of 1,206,150 and 1,078,310 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

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

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1822 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Is Vancouver more expensive than Lee's Summit?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Vancouver is 13.9% higher than Lee's Summit (105.421 vs 92.543, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How far is Vancouver, WA from Lee's Summit, MO?

The driving distance is 1822 mi and the route typically takes 31h 14m via I 80 and I 84. The trip crosses 8 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Lee's Summit.

City profiles: Lee's Summit, MO Β· Vancouver, WA.

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