Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Independence
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
St. Louis
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
58% less violent crime than St. Louis
Homes cost $23k less ($150,800 vs $174,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Households earn $4,474 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
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
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
St. Louis, MO
Pros
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $82/mo less ($938 vs $1,020)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Independence by $4,474/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Income
$4,474
$57,415 vs $52,941/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
58% lower
571.2 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$23k less
$150,800 vs $174,100
St. Louis
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Independence wins 11 and St. Louis wins 11. 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($57,415 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and St. Louis, MO are about 223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.