Population 7,460 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Independence
Household size in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Independence is a place of small households, averaging 2.25 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.36 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Independence is 42.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Independence than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Independence
Renters in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Independence is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (45.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Independence than nationally: 7.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Vacancy is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Independence are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Iowa as a whole, where the median home dates to 1971. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $583 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $710 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $724 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $884 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$301 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Independence pays $884 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $301 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Independence
Bachelor's degrees in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Independence have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.6%, against 35.6% nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Independence: 95.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Independence
| Period | Independence | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.3% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Independence has been low: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Independence compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | 2.25 | 42.7 | 8.8% | 23.8% | 7.6% | 1976 | $884 | 24.6% | 95.5% | 2.1% |
| Otterville | 2.63 | 45.8 | 10.3% | 8.2% | 17.9% | 1983 | $925 | 15.8% | 92.2% | 1.5% |
| Rowley | 2.23 | 54.9 | 6.2% | 11.4% | 3.2% | 1955 | $3,075 | 17.5% | 98.0% | 3.2% |
| Winthrop | 2.67 | 40.5 | 11.3% | 17.3% | 5.6% | 1963 | $1,060 | 23.4% | 94.6% | 2.7% |
| Jesup | 2.66 | 37.7 | 11.2% | 17.6% | 9.0% | 1974 | $881 | 22.7% | 95.6% | 4.7% |
| Quasqueton | 2.44 | 47.1 | 4.5% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 1980 | $912 | 19.0% | 95.3% | 1.1% |
| Hazleton | 2.70 | 35.7 | 16.9% | 11.1% | 10.7% | 1974 | $750 | 18.9% | 86.3% | 1.8% |
| Shady Grove | 2.87 | 42.8 | 3.1% | 9.0% | 10.5% | 1975 | $867 | 25.6% | 98.4% | 4.8% |
| Littleton | 2.80 | 46.9 | 2.9% | 5.5% | 22.3% | 1971 | $727 | 28.3% | 98.5% | 2.5% |
| Brandon | 2.86 | 40.9 | 3.7% | 11.2% | 0.9% | 1977 | $1,024 | 24.0% | 98.1% | 7.1% |
| Aurora | 2.43 | 44.1 | 15.0% | 10.6% | 3.6% | 1940 | $944 | 21.8% | 96.3% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Friday Harbor, WA · Four Corners, MD · Fowler, CA · Fox Point, WI · West Miami, FL · Frankford, DE · Franklin, NH · Fredericktown, MO · Fredericktown, OH · West Nyack, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Independence. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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