Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
23% less violent crime than Knoxville
Homes cost $33k less ($150,800 vs $184,200)
Households earn $9,106 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
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.8%)
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Independence by $9,106/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Median Income
$9,106
$57,415 vs $48,309/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
23% lower
571.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$33k less
$150,800 vs $184,200
Knoxville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $184,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,043 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Independence wins 10 and Knoxville 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 Independence to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $184,200 median home), income ($57,415 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Knoxville, TN are about 609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.