Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 16 of 22 categories
Independence
Missouri
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Overland Park
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($150,800 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,378)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $43,461/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 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $43,461 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Median Home Value
$211k less
$150,800 vs $361,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Overland Park
Median Income
$43,461
$100,876 vs $57,415/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
68% lower
184.4 vs 571.2 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 38.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 16 of 22 categories. Independence wins 6 and Overland Park wins 16. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $361,800 median home), income ($57,415 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Overland Park, KS are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.