The Town FilesIndependence, New Jersey
Township in Warren County · population 5,469 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $390,100
- Household income
- $92,243
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 50.4
Independence is a township of 5,469 people in Warren County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $390,100, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of New Jersey towns, quieter than 91% of New Jersey towns, better for cycling than 89% of New Jersey towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $390,100, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $92,243, which is more affordable than 36% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,603 a month. 82.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $390,100 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,603 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $92,243 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.5% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 11.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.5% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.6% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 37.1 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.4 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 6, 1998.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 11, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4725: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Warren County
Warren County had 33,264 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,742 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Towns near Independence
- Panther Valley, NJ2.6 mi · 4,391 people · home $369,900
- Hackettstown, NJ3.2 mi · 10,248 people · home $361,600
- Liberty, NJ3.3 mi · 2,670 people · home $363,600
- Allamuchy, NJ3.6 mi · 5,335 people · home $378,400
- Beattystown, NJ4.2 mi · 4,701 people · home $416,000
- Mansfield, NJ5.3 mi · 7,781 people · home $367,300
- Mount Olive, NJ7.1 mi · 28,886 people · home $487,100
- Budd Lake, NJ7.3 mi · 9,784 people · home $456,100
Independence questions
Is Independence, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 95% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 91%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $390,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,243, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,603 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28.4 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)