Moving from Pittsburgh, PA to Lee's Summit, MO

It is 838 mi between Pittsburgh and Lee's Summit β€” roughly 15h 58m 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.

838 mi Β· 15h 58m by car Β· PA β†’ WV β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ MO

COL -2.2% Home values +64.3% Ξ” +3.3Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
838 mi
Drive time
15h 58m
States
6
Fuel (25 mpg)
34 gal
Route throughPA β†’ WV β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ MO
Primary highwaysI 70, I 270, I 79
Major cities en routeColumbus, Dayton, St Louis, Columbia, Independence

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

Cost of living

PittsburghLee's SummitU.S. avg
All items (RPP)94.67192.543100.0
Rents107.71189.034100.0
Goods100.68494.12100.0
Services71.98686.642100.0

Overall price level is comparable β€” 94.671 vs 92.543 on the 2024 BEA RPP. Category-level gaps (rents, services) may still be meaningful.

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

Housing prices

Pittsburgh β€” typical home
$237,533
Lee's Summit β€” typical home
$390,166
Pittsburgh β€” typical rent
$1,554/mo
Lee's Summit β€” typical rent
$1,634/mo

Expect roughly 2.2% higher home prices β€” ZHVI goes from $237,533 to $390,166 moving to Lee's Summit.

YoY change: Pittsburgh -0.4%, Lee's Summit +2.1%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsPittsburghLee's Summit
Annual avg temperature52Β°F56Β°F
January avg low22Β°F22Β°F
July avg high83Β°F88Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation41.3"38.3"

Annual average temperatures in Pittsburgh (52.4Β°F) and Lee's Summit (55.7Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: PITTSBURGH ALLEGHENY CO AP, PA US, LEES SUMMIT MUNI AP, MO US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023PittsburghLee's Summit
Population303,620102,583
Median household income$64,137$104,989
Median age33.538.6
Bachelor's degree or higher24.6%29.5%
Avg household size2.212.6

Lee's Summit households earn about 2.2% more than Pittsburgh at the median β€” $64,137 β†’ $104,989 on ACS 2023.

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

Jobs & wages

Pittsburgh MSA β€” median wage
$47,360
Lee's Summit MSA β€” median wage
$48,040
Pittsburgh MSA β€” employment
1,071,900
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 Pennsylvania and Missouri

Pennsylvania income tax
3.07% 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

  • The Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg can see chain requirements in heavy winter storms.
  • I-77 at Flat Top Mountain and I-64 through the Greenbrier Valley see 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 much do homes cost in Lee's Summit compared to Pittsburgh?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $390,166 in Lee's Summit vs $237,533 in Pittsburgh β€” a 64.3% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

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

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $104,989 in Lee's Summit vs $64,137 in Pittsburgh β€” a 63.7% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

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

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,040 in the Lee's Summit MSA vs $47,360 in the Pittsburgh MSA, on total employment of 1,078,310 and 1,071,900 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

When is the best time to move from Pittsburgh 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 838 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 Pittsburgh?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Lee's Summit is 2.2% lower than Pittsburgh (92.543 vs 94.671, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How far is Lee's Summit, MO from Pittsburgh, PA?

The driving distance is 838 mi and the route typically takes 15h 58m via I 70 and I 270. The trip crosses 6 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 Pittsburgh.

City profiles: Pittsburgh, PA Β· Lee's Summit, MO.

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