Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 11 of 21 categories
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Vancouver
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($150,800 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,525)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vancouver by $16,211/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $16,211 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
2% lower
571.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$253k less
$150,800 vs $403,400
Independence
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$16,211
$73,626 vs $57,415/yr
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Independence is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 11 of 21 categories. Independence wins 10 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $403,400 median home), income ($57,415 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Vancouver, WA are about 1,502 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.