The Town FilesIndependence, Minnesota
City in Hennepin County · population 3,755 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $663,400
- Household income
- $186,597
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 44.7
Independence is a city of 3,755 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $663,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Minnesota towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $663,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $186,597, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $3,469 a month. 92.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $663,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $3,469 | $991 |
| Median household income | $186,597 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 36.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.7°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 186 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 5, 2019.
Severe weather in Hennepin County since 1996
Hennepin County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hennepin County
Hennepin County had 917,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,157 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Towns near Independence
- Delano, MN3.8 mi · 6,484 people · home $375,200
- Rockford, MN5.1 mi · 4,500 people · home $329,200
- Greenfield, MN5.4 mi · 2,903 people · home $567,700
- Minnetrista, MN5.5 mi · 8,262 people · home $658,300
- Franklin, MN6.0 mi · 2,885 people · home $637,800
- Mound, MN6.7 mi · 9,398 people · home $370,800
- Medina, MN7.1 mi · 6,837 people · home $736,700
- Watertown, MN7.3 mi · 4,659 people · home $337,200
Independence questions
Is Independence, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 95% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 34%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $663,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $186,597, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $3,469 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.1 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)