Population 2,403 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Independence
Household size in Independence
| Period | Independence | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.86 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.82 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Independence has 2.57 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in West Virginia as a whole, where it has 2.43 people.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.1 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.5 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Independence are younger than 40.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in West Virginia as a whole, where the median age is 43.2. The median age has climbed from 38.2 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.8% of households in Independence, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −11.6 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Independence is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 11.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 45.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.3% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Independence: 6.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Independence is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $671 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $839 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $773 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $952 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$281 | +$327 | +$606 |
The median renter in Independence pays $952 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in West Virginia overall ($905). Rent takes 18.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.6% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.4% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Independence as nationally: 37.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in West Virginia as a whole (25.0%).
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.7% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.2% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.0% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Independence is above the national rate: 94.0% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Independence is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.57 | 40.5 | 7.8% | 11.0% | 6.7% | 1992 | $952 | 37.4% | 94.0% | 5.6% |
| Threefork Bridge | 2.83 | 31.7 | 14.8% | 22.0% | 7.8% | 1984 | $754 | 33.2% | 93.5% | 0.4% |
| Hopewell | 2.29 | 43.4 | 8.5% | 16.0% | 9.5% | 1985 | $1,015 | 25.0% | 93.0% | 3.9% |
| Victoria | 2.30 | 53.3 | 6.3% | 3.6% | 13.8% | 1995 | $590 | 35.4% | 85.8% | 2.0% |
| Arthurdale | 2.44 | 49.2 | 6.9% | 2.0% | 22.8% | 1984 | $800 | 22.2% | 90.8% | 5.3% |
| Reedsville | 2.58 | 47.0 | 7.0% | 16.6% | 9.7% | 1987 | $986 | 19.0% | 90.1% | 9.8% |
| Opekiska | 2.50 | 39.5 | 7.7% | 12.8% | 5.4% | 1996 | $1,412 | 57.8% | 97.8% | 4.0% |
| Newburg | 2.19 | 50.7 | 12.3% | 13.3% | 11.9% | 1980 | $797 | 8.9% | 85.7% | 2.1% |
| Bretz | 2.04 | 60.6 | 6.5% | 22.4% | 4.1% | 1986 | $627 | 25.4% | 88.3% | 9.7% |
| Cascade | 2.32 | 48.7 | 9.7% | 4.5% | 12.1% | 1989 | $823 | 22.6% | 81.6% | 4.4% |
| Lowsville | 2.53 | 39.9 | 8.6% | 14.0% | 7.0% | 1990 | $1,354 | 51.8% | 90.9% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Stoystown, PA · Humansville, MO · Joseph, OR · Lynch Station, VA · Mechanicsville, SC · North Beach Haven, NJ · North York, PA · Oakville, CA · Robards, KY · Seneca, PA
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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