Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($150,800 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $506/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,526)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $25,523/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
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $25,523 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$273k less
$150,800 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$25,523
$82,938 vs $57,415/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
31% lower
394.4 vs 571.2 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Independence is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories. Independence wins 11 and Sparks wins 12. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $423,500 median home), income ($57,415 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Sparks, NV are about 1,351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.