The Town FilesIndependence, Michigan
Charter township in Oakland County · population 36,686 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $381,700
- Household income
- $114,699
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 41.3
Independence is a charter township of 36,686 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $381,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 94% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 83% of Michigan towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $381,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $114,699, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,453 a month. 79.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $381,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,453 | $955 |
| Median household income | $114,699 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 8, 1953 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 3, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Independence
7 public schools with 4,289 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkston High School | 7-12 | 1,560 | 20.0 |
| Sashabaw Middle School | 4-8 | 969 | 16.7 |
| Bailey Lake Elementary School | K-5 | 519 | 15.7 |
| Pine Knob Elementary School | PK-5 | 462 | 14.0 |
| Independence Elementary School | PK-5 | 457 | 14.3 |
| North Sashabaw Elementary School | K-5 | 318 | 12.2 |
| Clarkston Project Search | 15-15 | 4 | 2.0 |
Towns near Independence
- Springfield, MI5.6 mi · 14,703 people · home $384,800
- Waterford, MI5.9 mi · 70,565 people · home $250,900
- Brandon, MI6.6 mi · 15,384 people · home $331,000
- Orion, MI6.6 mi · 38,206 people · home $369,900
- Lake Orion, MI7.9 mi · 2,876 people · home $376,600
- Oxford, MI8.4 mi · 22,419 people · home $369,700
- Pontiac, MI8.6 mi · 61,606 people · home $121,700
- Groveland, MI8.6 mi · 5,912 people · home $342,500
Independence questions
Is Independence, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 63% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $381,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,699, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,453 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 62.3 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 8, 1953. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)