What are the schools like in Independence, VA?

Independence is served primarily by Grayson County Public Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.1:1.

What is the median household income in Independence?

The median household income in Independence, VA is $34,286 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.8%.

What is the weather like in Independence, VA?

Independence has an average high temperature of 41.4°F in January and 78.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Independence, VA affordable or expensive?

Independence's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Independence is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $119,500 and the median rent is $629 per month.

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

Independence has a violent crime rate of 99.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2885.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Independence, VA a Good Place to Live?

Independence is a small town of 1,176 in Virginia, with a median household income of $34,286 and a 7.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Independence stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), 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: 89.1

Independence's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Independence costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Independence, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$119,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$629	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$34,286	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Independence's violent crime rate is 99.5 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

99.5 /100k

Property Crime

2885.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Independence is served primarily by Grayson County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Independence, VA	National Avg
School District	Grayson County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Independence sees average highs of 41.4°F in January and 78.6°F in July, with 48.9 inches of annual precipitation and 18.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Independence, VA
Average High — January	41.4°F
Average High — July	78.6°F
Annual Precipitation	48.9"
Annual Snowfall	18.6"

Demographics

Metric	Independence, VA	National Avg
Population	1,176	—
Median Age	55.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.2%	22.2%
65 and over	32.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Baywood, VA 8 mi Sparta, NC 9 mi Stevens Creek, VA 11 mi Fries, VA 11 mi Hilltown, VA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Independence

Independence, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24348

Independence vs Other Cities

Independence, VA vs Baywood, VA Independence, VA vs Sparta, NC Independence, VA vs Stevens Creek, VA Independence, VA vs Fries, VA Independence, VA vs Hilltown, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Independence, VA affordable or expensive?

Independence's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Independence roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $119,500 and median rent is $629/month.

What is the crime rate in Independence, VA?

Independence's violent crime rate is 99.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2885.6 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 Grayson County Public Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.1:1. 19.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Independence, VA a good place to live?

Independence, VA has a population of 1,176, a median household income of $34,286, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%. 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.

What is the weather like in Independence?

Independence averages 41.4°F in January and 78.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.9 inches with about 18.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Independence?

Independence, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24348.

What is the population of Independence?

The population of Independence, Virginia is 1,176 with a median age of 55.2. 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 89 (100 = US average), median home $119,500, median household income $34,286, crime index 71 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.