Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Independence leads 17 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Inglewood
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $539k less ($150,800 vs $689,700)
Rent averages $646/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,666)
15% less violent crime than Inglewood
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Inglewood by $10,148/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,148 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
More college-educated — 22.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
15% lower
571.2 vs 674.6 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$539k less
$150,800 vs $689,700
Independence
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Independence
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 77.2°F
Inglewood
Median Income
$10,148
$67,563 vs $57,415/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Inglewood, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,666⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $67,563 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 22.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 106,806 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Independence is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 17 of 23 categories. Independence wins 17 and Inglewood wins 6. 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 Independence to Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $689,700 median home), income ($57,415 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Inglewood, CA are about 1,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.