Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Independence leads 15 of 22 categories
Independence
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $63k less ($150,800 vs $213,300)
24% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,225)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
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
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
24% lower
571.2 vs 752.4 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$63k less
$150,800 vs $213,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Independence is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Independence leads 15 of 22 categories. Independence wins 15 and Portsmouth wins 7. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $213,300 median home), income ($57,415 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Portsmouth, VA are about 990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.