Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Independence leads 13 of 22 categories
Independence
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Shreveport
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $11,448 more per year on average
Homes cost $18k less ($150,800 vs $168,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Rent averages $75/mo less ($945 vs $1,020)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Independence
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Independence by $11,448/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Median Income
$11,448
$57,415 vs $45,967/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
54% lower
571.2 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$18k less
$150,800 vs $168,900
Independence
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $168,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 26.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Independence leads 13 of 22 categories. Independence wins 13 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $168,900 median home), income ($57,415 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Shreveport, LA are about 458 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.