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Living in
Independence.
About
Life in Independence
Independence is a community of 10,088 people in Oregon. The median household income is $85,375, median rent runs about $1,665 per month, and median home values are around $378,800. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.
Independence at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
30.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Foreign-Born
9.0%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.0% 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 (85.4%), and 24.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.6%
of residents
65 and Older
10.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.5%
of households
Married Couples
47.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.22
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 9% above OR average
Rent, home values, and income in Independence
In Independence, rent runs 9% above the OR average, and home values are 21% below the OR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,617
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1999
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $421,354 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OR
Unemployment in Independence
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Independence, is close to the OR average.
Unemployment rate
Independence: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Independence Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.9 min avg
How Independence residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Independence, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field (SLE)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 58 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M 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 47% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Independence runs 47% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
173.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,282.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Independence Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
72.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Independence, the most common type is flood, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 6 | Flood | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2022 | 2 | Flood | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 2 | Flood | None reported |
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.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marion County, OR (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 30 miles from Independence) is typically good — 292 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
292
per year
Moderate Days
73
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Marion County, OR (30 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Independence has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/51°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.9"
Annual Snowfall
9.6"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
49
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
148
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 35°F | 7.48" |
| Feb | 51°F | 36°F | 5.56" |
| Mar | 56°F | 38°F | 5.08" |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 3.71" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 2.36" |
| Jun | 73°F | 49°F | 1.49" |
| Jul | 83°F | 52°F | 0.31" |
| Aug | 83°F | 52°F | 0.47" |
| Sep | 78°F | 49°F | 1.60" |
| Oct | 65°F | 44°F | 3.80" |
| Nov | 52°F | 38°F | 7.18" |
| Dec | 46°F | 35°F | 8.74" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Independence
Uninsured
5.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Independence's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Salem Health West Valley
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Dallas
Salem Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Salem
Oregon State Hospital Distinct Part
Psychiatric · 11.1 mi away · Salem
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.
Education19.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Independence
Independence's student/teacher ratio is 19.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Independence (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 6,610 students · in-state tuition $6,570 · 27% graduate · median earnings $45,297 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 3,103 students · in-state tuition $12,087 · 55% graduate · median earnings $56,475 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,592 students · in-state tuition $54,224 · 74% graduate · median earnings $62,275 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 678 students · in-state tuition $39,166 · 53% graduate · median earnings $53,254 (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: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 59 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Independence
Independence has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (59 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayPublic Libraries in Independence
Independence Public Library
175 Monmouth St, 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, Oregon affordable?⌄
Independence's median rent is $1,665/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $85,375/year. Median home value is $378,800.
Is Independence, Oregon safe?⌄
Independence's violent crime rate was 174 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 1283 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Independence, Oregon?⌄
Polk County, which includes Independence, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Independence, Oregon?⌄
The cost of living in Independence is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,665/month and median household income is $85,375/year. The median home value is $378,800. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Independence, Oregon?⌄
The average commute in Independence is 25 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