The Town FilesIndependence, Ohio
City in Cuyahoga County · population 7,584 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,900
- Household income
- $115,733
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 48.4
Independence is a city of 7,584 people in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The median home is worth $309,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more upscale than 91% of Ohio towns, quieter than 85% of Ohio towns, better for families than 84% of Ohio towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $309,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $115,733, which is more affordable than 48% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,383 a month. 90.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,383 | $914 |
| Median household income | $115,733 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 90.4% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 90.9% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.6 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 371 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 98 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 1965.
Severe weather in Cuyahoga County since 1996
Cuyahoga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| January 3, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4098: Severe Storms And Flooding Due To The Remnants Of Hurricane Sandy |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| July 2, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1651: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County had 705,152 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,134 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Independence
3 public schools with 1,058 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Primary School | PK-4 | 438 | 16.2 |
| Independence Middle School | 5-8 | 311 | 13.0 |
| Independence High School | 9-12 | 309 | 14.0 |
Towns near Independence
- Seven Hills, OH2.2 mi · 11,720 people · home $258,000
- Garfield Heights, OH3.0 mi · 29,781 people · home $109,900
- Maple Heights, OH4.2 mi · 23,701 people · home $97,900
- Broadview Heights, OH4.9 mi · 19,936 people · home $316,700
- Parma, OH4.9 mi · 81,146 people · home $170,100
- Brecksville, OH5.1 mi · 13,635 people · home $371,900
- Bedford, OH5.2 mi · 13,149 people · home $135,200
- Northfield, OH6.2 mi · 3,541 people · home $166,700
Independence questions
Is Independence, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 69% of Ohio towns and quieter than 85%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $309,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,733, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,383 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 61.6 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)