The Town FilesIndependence, Iowa
City in Buchanan County · population 6,064 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,300
- Household income
- $73,806
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 40.9
Independence is a city of 6,064 people in Buchanan County, Iowa. The median home is worth $165,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 84% of Iowa towns, better transit than 83% of Iowa towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $165,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $73,806, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 72.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $820 | $820 |
| Median household income | $73,806 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 25, 2008 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Buchanan County since 1996
Buchanan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buchanan County
Buchanan County had 6,619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,047 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Independence
5 public schools with 1,442 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Junior Senior High School | 7-12 | 724 | 16.5 |
| West Elementary School | 3-6 | 371 | 10.9 |
| East Elementary School | K-2 | 281 | 12.8 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 39 | 39.0 |
| Perry #1 Elementary School | K-8 | 27 | 27.0 |
Towns near Independence
- Jesup, IA8.3 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Oelwein, IA14.5 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
- Evansdale, IA18.7 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- Center Point, IA20.2 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
- Vinton, IA21.6 mi · 4,938 people · home $152,300
- Manchester, IA22.8 mi · 5,065 people · home $139,400
- Waterloo, IA23.0 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
- Hudson, IA28.0 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
Independence questions
Is Independence, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns and quieter than 30%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $165,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,806, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.9 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 25, 2008. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)