Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Independence leads 12 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Independence
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $30k less ($121,100 vs $150,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $103/mo less ($917 vs $1,020)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Independence
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Independence by $7,562/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Independence, MO
Pros
53% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $7,562 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$30k less
$121,100 vs $150,800
Evansville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Median Income
$7,562
$57,415 vs $49,853/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
53% lower
571.2 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $150,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $57,415 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 8.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 12 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 11 and Independence wins 12. 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 Evansville to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $150,800 median home), income ($49,853 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Independence, MO are about 376 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.