Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $55,764 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Independence
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $505k less ($150,800 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $963/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,983)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $55,764/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$55,764
$113,179 vs $57,415/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
62% lower
219.1 vs 571.2 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$505k less
$150,800 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 13.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Independence wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $150,800 median home), income ($113,179 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Independence, MO are about 927 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.