Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Independence leads 14 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($150,800 vs $243,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.2%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
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
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yakima, WA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Independence
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.2%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Income
$1,681
$57,415 vs $55,734/yr
Independence
Median Home Value
$93k less
$150,800 vs $243,300
Independence
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Violent Crime
5% lower
544.3 vs 571.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Independence is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 14 of 23 categories. Independence wins 14 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $243,300 median home), income ($57,415 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Yakima, WA are about 1,417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.