What are the schools like in Independence, CA?

Independence is served primarily by Owens Valley Unified. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Independence?

The median household income in Independence, CA is $57,917 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.0%.

What is the weather like in Independence, CA?

Independence has an average high temperature of 57.7°F in January and 102.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 5.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 220.4 inches.

Independence, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Independence, CA affordable or expensive?

Independence's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Independence is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $246,400 and the median rent is $1,089 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Independence, CA?

Independence has a violent crime rate of 704.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1075.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Independence, CA a Good Place to Live?

Independence is a small town of 850 in California, with a median household income of $57,917 and a 8.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Independence stands out for solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Independence is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Independence city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.7

Independence's overall cost of living index is 102.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Independence costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Independence, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$246,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,089	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,917	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Independence's violent crime rate is 704.0 per 100,000 residents — 85% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

704.0 /100k

Property Crime

1075.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Independence is served primarily by Owens Valley Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Independence, CA	National Avg
School District	Owens Valley Unified	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Independence sees average highs of 57.7°F in January and 102.1°F in July, with 5.4 inches of annual precipitation and 220.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Independence, CA
Average High — January	57.7°F
Average High — July	102.1°F
Annual Precipitation	5.4"
Annual Snowfall	220.4"

Demographics

Metric	Independence, CA	National Avg
Population	850	—
Median Age	40.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	66.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	25.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lone Pine, CA 19 mi Big Pine, CA 24 mi Keeler, CA 30 mi Wilkerson, CA 33 mi Silver City, CA 35 mi

ZIP Codes in Independence

Independence, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

93526

Independence vs Other Cities

Independence, CA vs Lone Pine, CA Independence, CA vs Big Pine, CA Independence, CA vs Keeler, CA Independence, CA vs Wilkerson, CA Independence, CA vs Silver City, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Independence, CA affordable or expensive?

Independence's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Independence roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $246,400 and median rent is $1,089/month.

What is the crime rate in Independence, CA?

Independence's violent crime rate is 704.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1075.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Independence?

Public schools in Independence are operated by Owens Valley Unified. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Independence, CA a good place to live?

Independence, CA has a population of 850, a median household income of $57,917, and an unemployment rate of 8.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Independence?

Independence averages 57.7°F in January and 102.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 5.4 inches with about 220.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Independence?

Independence, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 93526.

What is the population of Independence?

The population of Independence, California is 850 with a median age of 40.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Independence?

Key numbers for living in Independence: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $246,400, median household income $57,917, crime index 132 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Independence side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.