Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Independence leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Independence
Missouri
13
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
28% less violent crime than Independence
Households earn $12,022 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 23.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Independence
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($150,800 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,452)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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 Gresham by $12,022/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$12,022
$69,437 vs $57,415/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
28% lower
410.2 vs 571.2 per 100k
Independence
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$261k less
$150,800 vs $411,700
Independence
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 10 and Independence wins 13. 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 Gresham to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $150,800 median home), income ($69,437 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Independence, MO are about 1,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.