Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Independence leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Independence
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $51,853 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Independence
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($150,800 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $888/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $51,853/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$51,853
$109,268 vs $57,415/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$243k less
$150,800 vs $393,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ 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 | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 13.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 60.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown'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 20 decided categories above, Independence leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 9 and Independence wins 11. 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 Germantown to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $150,800 median home), income ($109,268 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Independence, MO are about 915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.