The Town FilesIndependence, Missouri
City in Jackson County · population 123,011 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $172,900
- Household income
- $60,339
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 39.0
Independence is a city of 123,011 people in Jackson County, Missouri. The median home is worth $172,900, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more walkable than 86% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 86% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Missouri towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $172,900, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $60,339, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,109 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,109 | $855 |
| Median household income | $60,339 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 44.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 20, 1957 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 37. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 37 deaths and 181 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 178 times; the largest was 5.50 inches on September 18, 2010.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2011 | Flood | EM-3325: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 375,574 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Independence
40 public schools with 17,885 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRUMAN HIGH | 9-12 | 1,700 | 19.5 |
| FORT OSAGE HIGH | 9-12 | 1,575 | 18.3 |
| WILLIAM CHRISMAN HIGH | 9-12 | 1,441 | 17.4 |
| CLIFFORD H. NOWLIN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 886 | 16.7 |
| PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE | 7-8 | 817 | 16.7 |
| BINGHAM MIDDLE | 7-8 | 758 | 16.1 |
| OSAGE TRAIL MIDDLE | 7-8 | 724 | 14.5 |
| BRIDGER MIDDLE | 6-6 | 696 | 14.8 |
| FIRE PRAIRIE MIDDLE | 5-6 | 693 | 13.9 |
| SYCAMORE HILLS ELEM. | PK-5 | 537 | 17.3 |
| KORTE ELEM. | PK-5 | 460 | 17.7 |
| WILLIAM SOUTHERN ELEM. | PK-5 | 452 | 18.1 |
Towns near Independence
- Sugar Creek, MO4.8 mi · 3,271 people · home $136,600
- Blue Springs, MO6.8 mi · 58,603 people · home $263,100
- Raytown, MO8.6 mi · 30,012 people · home $182,900
- Grain Valley, MO8.8 mi · 15,627 people · home $283,800
- Buckner, MO8.9 mi · 2,945 people · home $197,600
- Kansas City, MO11.0 mi · 508,090 people · home $242,900
- Liberty, MO11.4 mi · 30,167 people · home $283,300
- Pleasant Valley, MO11.4 mi · 2,743 people · home $202,000
Independence questions
Is Independence, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 29% of Missouri towns and quieter than 17%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $172,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,339, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,109 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 13.2 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 20, 1957. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)