Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Independence leads 14 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
New York
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $581k less ($150,800 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $694/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,714)
15% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Median income trails New York by $19,192/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
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $19,192 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
15% lower
571.2 vs 671.0 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$581k less
$150,800 vs $732,100
Independence
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
New York
Median Income
$19,192
$76,607 vs $57,415/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Independence is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 14 of 23 categories. Independence wins 14 and New York 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 Independence to New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $732,100 median home), income ($57,415 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and New York, NY are about 1,085 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.