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Missouri city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Independence?

What it costs to live in Independence, and how it compares with other Missouri cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

46

38th best value in Missouri

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Missouri cities.

Overall livability

39

41st overall in Missouri

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Independence is home to about 122,230 people. A typical home runs $130,400 and a household earns around $54,000, a price-to-income ratio of 2.4. Among Missouri's largest cities, it ranks 38th for value and 41st overall.

Independence at a glance

Median home price

$130,400

16th in MO of 58

Median rent

$930/mo

Median household income

$54,000

Home price to income

2.4x

Unemployment

6.1%

49th in MO of 58

School rating

4/10

34th in MO of 58

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in MO of 58

Walk score

14/100

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‹ See all top Missouri cities ranked  ยท  Missouri state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Missouri only. Updated 2026.