Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Savannah
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($150,800 vs $203,300)
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,216)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Households earn $2,667 more per year on average
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
Savannah, GA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Independence
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.2%)
Median income trails Independence by $2,667/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Income
$2,667
$57,415 vs $54,748/yr
Independence
Median Home Value
$53k less
$150,800 vs $203,300
Independence
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Violent Crime
96% lower
20.3 vs 571.2 per 100k
Savannah
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.6 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $203,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Independence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Independence wins 10 and Savannah wins 10. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $203,300 median home), income ($57,415 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Savannah, GA are about 885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.