Below Average CostHigher than AverageINDEPENDENCE 30
Jackson County Courthouse Independence MO-cropped · TheCatalyst31 with modifications by Kbh3rd / CC BY-SA 3.0"lndependence-Courthouse-Missouri.", 1855 - NARA - 513335 · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainOregontrail 1907 · Wikimedia Commons / Public domainHarry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum July 2007 · Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0
Independence is a mid-sized city of 122,218 in Missouri, with a median household income of $57,415
and a 6.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Independence stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, 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: 93.3
Independence's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Independence costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Independence, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$150,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,020
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,415
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Independence's violent crime rate is 571.2 per 100,000 residents
— 50% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
571.2 /100k
Property Crime
3523.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Independence is served primarily by INDEPENDENCE 30.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Independence, MO
National Avg
School District
INDEPENDENCE 30
—
Elementary Schools
20
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Independence sees average highs of 37.6°F in January
and 86.9°F in July,
with 44.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.2 inches of snow per year.
Independence's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Independence roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $150,800 and median rent is $1,020/month.
Independence's violent crime rate is 571.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3523.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Independence are operated by INDEPENDENCE 30.
The district has 20 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 19.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Independence, MO has a population of 122,218, a median household income of $57,415, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Independence averages 37.6°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.7 inches
with about 13.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Independence, MO is covered by 7 ZIP codes: 64056, 64055, 64057, 64016, 64050, 64052, 64053.
The population of Independence, Missouri is 122,218 with a median age of 39.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Independence: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $150,800, median household income $57,415, crime index 157 (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.
