Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
9
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $17,961 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Independence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($150,800 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $607/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,627)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $17,961/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$17,961
$75,376 vs $57,415/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.9°F
Independence
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$267k less
$150,800 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 18.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 11 and Independence wins 9. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $150,800 median home), income ($75,376 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Independence, MO are about 1,215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.