Independence, MO Local Data & Statistics

State: MO

Total population: 121,740 Household income: $60,339 Rent: $1,109

Overview

Total population

121,740

Rent

$1,109

Year built

1967

Household income

$60,339

Per capita income

$32,713

Poverty rate

15.8%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

49.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Missouri

Total population

121,740

Adults over 25

84,238

Total households

51,477

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$60,339

Per capita income

$32,713

Poverty rate

15.8%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Rent over 30% of income

49.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,109

Year built

1967

Households that rent

39.1%

Households that own

60.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

71.4%

Black

10.7%

Asian

1.2%

Two or more races

11.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

13.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

86.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.7%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

12.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.4%

High school graduate or GED

36.8%

Some college or associate degree

10.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

21.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Independence, MO with: Missouri United States

Independence, MO

Total population121,740

Rent$1,109

Year built1967

Household income$60,339

Per capita income$32,713

Poverty rate15.8%

Unemployment rate4.0%

Missouri State

Total population6,191,814

Rent$1,033

Year built1978

Household income$70,702

Per capita income$39,695

Poverty rate12.6%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityIndependence, MO	StateMissouri	CountryUnited States
Total population	121,740	6,191,814	334,922,499
Rent	$1,109	$1,033	$1,413
Year built	1967	1978	1980
Household income	$60,339	$70,702	$80,734
Per capita income	$32,713	$39,695	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.8%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.0%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Independence, MO, Missouri and United States →

Summary for Independence, MO

Independence is located in Missouri.

Rent & Income

In Independence, the typical monthly rent is $1,109 and the typical household income is $60,339. Rent here is higher than Missouri and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Missouri and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 15.8%, which is higher than in both Missouri and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.1% of households. About 49.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 21.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is higher than Missouri and similar to the national rate.

Independence, MO — Rent vs Household Income

Independence, MO — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Independence, MO compares in Missouri (14 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,109	7 / 14	from lower rent	$898 – $1,443
Household income	$60,339	9 / 14	from higher income	$49,311 – $110,443
Poverty rate	15.8%	8 / 14	from lower poverty	5.4% – 20.6%
Unemployment rate	4%	14 / 14	from lower unemployment	2.3% – 4%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Missouri with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Independence, MO

Rent

Rent prices put Independence in 7th place among 14 large communities in Missouri. Across Missouri, rents range from $898 in St. Joseph, MO up to $1,443 in O'Fallon, MO.

Household income

Independence ranks 9th among 14 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $49,311 in Springfield, MO to $110,443 in O'Fallon, MO.

Poverty rate

Independence places 8th out of 14 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 5.4% in O'Fallon, MO up to 20.6% in 29510, MO.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Independence ranks 14th out of 14 significant areas. Across Missouri, unemployment varies from 2.3% in O'Fallon, MO to 4% in Independence, MO.

💰 Rent in Independence, MO (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,109 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Independence, MO

Annual Household Income: $60,339

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Independence, MO

Estimated Rate: 15.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Independence, MO

In Independence, MO, households that rent: 20,122 (39.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	20,122	39.1%
Owner-Occupied	31,355	60.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Independence, MO

In Independence, MO, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,987 (49.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,987	49.6%
Other renter households	10,135	50.4%
Total renter households	20,122	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Independence, MO

Less than High School: 25,604 people (30.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 30,979 people (36.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,182 people (10.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 18,473 people (21.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 84,238

📊 Unemployment Rate in Independence, MO

Estimated Rate: 4.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Rochester, MN121,638 Lafayette, LA121,537 College Station, TX122,280 Ann Arbor, MI121,179 Clovis, CA122,719 Arvada, CO122,835 Berkeley, CA120,223 Fairfield, CA119,985 Hartford, CT119,970 West Palm Beach, FL119,508

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.