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Living in
Independence.
About
Life in Independence
Life here revolves around being a solid, affordable suburb of Kansas City with genuine roots—not just a bedroom community. With a median household income around $60,339 and median home values near $172,900, your money stretches further than in the metro core, and rent averages around $1,109 a month, making it realistic for families and first-time homebuyers who want breathing room. The job market is steady with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, and you're close enough to Kansas City (average commute under 24 minutes) to access major employers without the chaos of living downtown.
Independence at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.8%
Foreign-Born
5.7%
Broadband Internet
89.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Independence: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Independence, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.2%), and 7.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.3%
of households
Married Couples
39.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 7% above MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Independence
In Independence, rent runs 7% above the MO average, and home values are 25% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,914
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $210,944 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above MO average
Unemployment in Independence and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Independence is 0.7 percentage points higher than the MO 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
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Kansas City, MO-KS metro area
Commute23.9 min avg
How Independence residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Independence, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Medium hub5.6M 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 70% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Independence runs 70% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
559.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,006.7
per 100,000 residents
Above 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 High
96.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jackson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jackson 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 | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 13 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 20 | Drought | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7,000 |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $240,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jackson County, county-wide
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jackson County, which includes Independence, is typically good — 209 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
209
per year
Moderate Days
153
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Jackson County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 22°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 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.7"
Annual Snowfall
13.2"
Hot Days/Year
31
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
113
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 1.50" |
| Feb | 43°F | 23°F | 1.86" |
| Mar | 55°F | 33°F | 2.88" |
| Apr | 65°F | 43°F | 4.43" |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 5.99" |
| Jun | 83°F | 64°F | 5.28" |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 5.11" |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 5.06" |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 4.77" |
| Oct | 67°F | 45°F | 3.54" |
| Nov | 53°F | 34°F | 2.40" |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 1.84" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Independence
Independence has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
12.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Centerpoint Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Mary's Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Blue Springs
University Health Lakewood Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Kansas City
Kansas City VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Kansas City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Independence
Independence's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
34
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Independence (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
12.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 10,649 students · in-state tuition $3,630 · 22% graduate · median earnings $44,475 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Missouri-Kansas City
13 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,817 students · in-state tuition $13,216 · 58% graduate · median earnings $63,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,580 students · in-state tuition $46,270 · 77% graduate · median earnings $73,697 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 924 students · in-state tuition $21,538 · 62% graduate · median earnings $63,955 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 812 students · in-state tuition $45,674 · 57% graduate · median earnings $40,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
13.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 747 students · in-state tuition $10,560 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,104 (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: Harry S Truman National Historic Site, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Independence
Independence has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Harry S Truman National Historic Site (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Harry S Truman National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayBrown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
71 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Independence
Farview Neighborhood Library
18109 E 12th St N, Independence
Midwest Genealogy Center
3440 S Lee`S Summit Road, Independence
North Independence Branch
317 W Us Hwy 24, Independence
South Independence Branch
13700 E 35th St, Independence
Trails West Branch
11401 E 23rd St S, Independence
Cities 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, Missouri affordable?⌄
Independence's median rent is $1,109/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,339/year. Median home value is $172,900.
Is Independence, Missouri safe?⌄
Independence's violent crime rate was 560 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3007 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Independence, Missouri?⌄
Independence has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Independence, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Independence is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,109/month and median household income is $60,339/year. The median home value is $172,900. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Independence, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Independence is 24 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