What it's like to live in Independence
Independence is a small city in Oregon with crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Independence deals with rent well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low crime rates
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- 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
$3,330
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $66,600 a year
- 47% of Independence renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$75,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,880
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 18% above US
$1,665/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,665 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $378,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $378,800 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Polk County is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Polk County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 47% below US
174 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1283/100k · Independence Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.9 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; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 25% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (59 miles away).
Bottom line
Independence's strongest point is crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,665/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Independence
All Oregon guides →Moving to Monmouth →
2 mi away · pop. 11,428
Rent $1,114/mo · Income $69,170
Compare with Independence →Moving to Salem →
10 mi away · pop. 178,865
Rent $1,400/mo · Income $75,487
Compare with Independence →Moving to Four Corners →
12 mi away · pop. 16,275
Rent $1,416/mo · Income $69,669
Compare with Independence →Not sure Independence is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.