Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Independence, MO

    Is Independence a good place to live?

    Watch Independence

    Independence ranks #26 of 29 Missouri cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (30/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $166,400
    +10.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,061
    per month
    Household income
    $59,480
    median
    Unemployment
    6.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Independence

    The median home value in Independence is $166,400 and median rent is $1,061 a month, against a median household income of $59,480. Homes cost about 2.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Independence crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Missouri the 2025 rate was 426 violent and 1,689 property crimes per 100,000 people — #16 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Independence, MO

    Independence has about 121,944 residents, 6.0% unemployment and 14% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Independence with

    Independence vs Kansas CityIndependence vs St. LouisIndependence vs SpringfieldIndependence vs ColumbiaIndependence vs Lee's SummitIndependence vs O'FallonIndependence vs St. JosephIndependence vs St. Charles

    More: Where to move in Missouri · Best counties in Missouri

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report