What it's like to live in Independence
Independence is a small city in Kentucky with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, and household incomes running above the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Independence deals with cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
The not so good
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Independence compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Independence
Based on Independence's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,500
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,000 a year
- 35% of Independence renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$52,740
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,370
- Homes cost 2.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,250/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,250 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $263,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $263,700 · 35% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 85% below US
49 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 350/100k · Independence Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is William Howard Taft National Historic Site (12 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Independence's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,250/mo) equals 15% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Independence
All Kentucky guides →Moving to Florence →
6 mi away · pop. 32,803
Rent $1,329/mo · Income $71,003
Compare with Independence →Moving to Covington →
6 mi away · pop. 41,110
Rent $1,006/mo · Income $61,166
Compare with Independence →Not sure Independence is the one?
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