Population 122,617 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Independence
Household size in Independence
| Period | Independence | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.57 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.60 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.59 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.55 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.02 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Independence run small, averaging 2.41 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.44, as it has nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.5 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.0 | 37.9 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.1 | 38.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 39.2 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +1.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Independence are younger than 40.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in the Kansas City area as a whole, where the median age is 39.2. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.4, as it has nationally.
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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 11.9% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.8% | 11.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 10.9% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Independence (13.2%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Missouri cities, Independence has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.3% | 31.2% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.5% | 33.7% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.5% | 34.9% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.5% | 34.2% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Independence than nationally: 39.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 41.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 9.7% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 9.0% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 7.5% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Independence as nationally: 9.4%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Kansas City area (7.5%). Vacancy is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1976 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1977 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1977 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1980 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Independence is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest. Independence has older homes than at least four in five Missouri cities.
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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $731 | $897 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $813 | $980 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $926 | $1,095 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,230 | $1,395 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$499 | +$498 | +$383 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Independence costs $1,230 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $499 a month since 2006–10, up 68%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southeast.
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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.7% | 33.5% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 34.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 37.1% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 39.7% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Independence have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.3%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast 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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.6% | 90.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.1% | 90.9% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.1% | 91.8% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 92.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +2.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Independence have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Kansas City area (92.9%). The share with a diploma is up 3.5 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 | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 6.8% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 7.6% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.9 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Independence is the same as the national rate: 5.4% of the labor force. The rate is higher than in the Kansas City area as a whole (4.0%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.6 points, mirroring the country.
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 | 2.41 | 40.7 | 13.2% | 39.5% | 9.4% | 1967 | $1,230 | 20.3% | 89.1% | 5.4% |
| Sugar Creek | 2.51 | 39.3 | 16.0% | 26.5% | 14.6% | 1956 | $1,229 | 22.6% | 88.0% | 4.4% |
| Birmingham | 2.66 | 37.1 | 12.0% | 21.9% | 3.7% | 1964 | $1,464 | 12.9% | 83.2% | 10.0% |
| Lake Tapawingo | 2.67 | 43.2 | 3.1% | 9.1% | 3.7% | 1983 | $1,500 | 46.4% | 98.0% | 5.2% |
| Raytown | 2.36 | 41.2 | 17.8% | 34.3% | 8.4% | 1964 | $1,254 | 22.4% | 92.1% | 5.8% |
| Randolph | 2.66 | 37.1 | 12.0% | 21.9% | 3.7% | 1964 | $1,464 | 12.9% | 83.2% | 10.0% |
| Blue Springs | 2.64 | 39.5 | 12.7% | 30.0% | 4.7% | 1988 | $1,351 | 35.6% | 95.7% | 3.2% |
| Lake City | 2.83 | 47.5 | 5.8% | 7.5% | 3.6% | 1979 | $1,344 | 30.6% | 94.9% | 2.2% |
| Kansas City area | 2.55 | 39.2 | 10.9% | 34.2% | 7.5% | 1980 | $1,395 | 39.7% | 92.9% | 4.0% |
| Avondale | 2.30 | 44.0 | 12.6% | 25.5% | 2.0% | 1963 | $1,196 | 41.2% | 94.9% | 7.4% |
| Unity Village | 1.49 | 32.6 | 1.5% | 83.1% | 3.2% | 2014 | $1,434 | 45.8% | 89.2% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Utica, MI · Traverse City, MI · Tulare, CA · Tracy, CA · Topeka, KS · Vacaville, CA · Vancouver, WA · Stockbridge, GA · Toledo, OH · Sunnyvale, CA
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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