The Town FilesIndependence, Oregon
City in Polk County · population 9,828 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,800
- Household income
- $85,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 30.7
Independence is a city of 9,828 people in Polk County, Oregon. The median home is worth $378,800, close to the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Oregon towns, better for cycling than 84% of Oregon towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Oregon towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $378,800, close to the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $85,375, which is more affordable than 74% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,665 a month. 54.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,800 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,665 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $85,375 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 54.6% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.7 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 92.4% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.7 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 21, 2003 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2003.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4907: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4599: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3429: Covid-19 |
| February 17, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4258: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 21,937 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,263 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Independence
3 public schools with 2,125 students, about 19.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | 9-12 | 1,014 | 22.5 |
| Talmadge Middle School | 6-8 | 732 | 18.8 |
| Independence Elementary School | K-5 | 379 | 16.5 |
Towns near Independence
- Monmouth, OR1.6 mi · 11,110 people · home $413,200
- Dallas, OR7.2 mi · 16,854 people · home $389,100
- Salem, OR9.7 mi · 175,535 people · home $416,900
- Four Corners, OR12.0 mi · 16,740 people · home $340,200
- Keizer, OR13.1 mi · 39,376 people · home $434,100
- Jefferson, OR13.6 mi · 3,327 people · home $373,000
- Hayesville, OR13.8 mi · 21,891 people · home $365,400
- Millersburg, OR13.8 mi · 2,919 people · home $567,200
Independence questions
Is Independence, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 2% of Oregon towns and quieter than 2%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.7).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $378,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,375, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,665 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 5.7 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 21, 2003. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- 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)