Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 15 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($150,800 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,311)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $47,448/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 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $47,448 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Independence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$133k less
$150,800 vs $283,600
O'Fallon
Median Income
$47,448
$104,863 vs $57,415/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
90% lower
59.0 vs 571.2 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 38.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 15 of 23 categories. Independence wins 8 and O'Fallon wins 15. 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $283,600 median home), income ($57,415 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and O'Fallon, MO are about 196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.