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Living in
Independence.
About
Life in Independence
Independence functions as a stable, family-focused suburb in the Cincinnati metro area rather than a destination city, which shapes what daily life actually feels like here. The median household income of about $102,000 puts it solidly middle to upper-middle class, and home values around $263,700 are reasonable for the region, though you'll want to factor in that median rent runs about $1,200 monthly. The job market is steady thanks to manufacturing and logistics employers, with unemployment at 3.7%, but many residents commute into Cincinnati or other nearby employment centers—plan on about 27 minutes average.
Independence at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
3.1%
Broadband Internet
96.6%
of households
Population Growth
+5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.1% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Independence: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Independence, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (15.6%), and 1.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.9%
of residents
65 and Older
10.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.8%
of households
Married Couples
60.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.00
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% above KY average
Rent, home values, and income in Independence
In Independence, rent runs 29% above the KY average, and home values are 28% above the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,527
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
83.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1999
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $328,415 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below KY average
Unemployment in Independence
Unemployment in Independence is 0.9 percentage points lower than the KY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Independence Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.2 min avg
How Independence residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Independence, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Independence runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
49.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
350.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Independence Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kenton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kenton County, which includes Independence, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $34,200 |
| 2024 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9,100 |
| 2023 | 5 | Winter Storm | $31,000 |
| 2022 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,200 |
| 2021 | 10 | Winter Weather | $20,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $90,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $117,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kenton County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Campbell County, KY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 9 miles from Independence) is typically good — 276 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
276
per year
Moderate Days
85
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Campbell County, KY (9 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Independence has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.3"
Annual Snowfall
23.3"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
100
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
136
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 23°F | 3.30" |
| Feb | 44°F | 26°F | 3.17" |
| Mar | 54°F | 34°F | 4.16" |
| Apr | 66°F | 44°F | 4.53" |
| May | 75°F | 54°F | 4.67" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 4.75" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.83" |
| Aug | 85°F | 65°F | 3.43" |
| Sep | 79°F | 57°F | 3.11" |
| Oct | 67°F | 46°F | 3.35" |
| Nov | 54°F | 35°F | 3.23" |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 3.73" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Independence
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Independence's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Elizabeth Edgewood
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Edgewood
St Elizabeth Florence
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Florence
Sun Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 6.5 mi away · Erlanger
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Independence
Independence's student/teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Independence (within 15 miles)
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
12.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 29,882 students · in-state tuition $14,394 · 73% graduate · median earnings $60,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,207 students · in-state tuition $52,680 · 71% graduate · median earnings $69,118 (10 yrs after entry)
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
12 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 713 students · in-state tuition $17,318 · 64% graduate · median earnings $73,495 (10 yrs after entry)
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
13.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 690 students · in-state tuition $15,356 · 77% graduate · median earnings $72,043 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 536 students · in-state tuition $13,295 · 49% graduate · median earnings $42,712 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 281 students · in-state tuition $7,700 · 40% graduate · median earnings $37,329 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Independence
Independence has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being William Howard Taft National Historic Site (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
63 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayCamp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
83 mi awayCities Near Independence
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Independence?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Independence FAQ
Is Independence, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Independence's median rent is $1,250/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $102,361/year. Median home value is $263,700.
Is Independence, Kentucky safe?⌄
Independence's violent crime rate was 49 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 350 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Independence, Kentucky?⌄
Independence has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Independence, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Independence is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,250/month and median household income is $102,361/year. The median home value is $263,700. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Independence, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Independence is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from