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CITY

Independence

Missouri · 121,675 residents (2025 est.) · 78.0 sq mi
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The short version

Independence is home to 121,740 people in Missouri. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $172,900. The foreign-born share is 6%. Density works out to 1,561 people per square mile. Median household income is $60,339, under the $82,259 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
121,740
+7%since 2000
from 113,288 in 2000
121,675 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,561 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 1,544 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.0
+3%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
78.0 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
111K114K118K121K124K19902000201020202024Independence
2024122K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.1%(7,384)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(7,740)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(7,976)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(7,586)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(6,816)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3414.3%(17,385)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.3%(14,974)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.8%(13,180)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.1%(15,905)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.4%(12,655)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.7%(6,988)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(3,151)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,339
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,012 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,713
+69%since 2000
from $19,384 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.2%
+15.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.8%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.436
+7%since 2010
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$172,900
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,109
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $518 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.9%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 67.8% in 2000
39.1% rent
Vacancy rate
8.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.34 people
−7%since 2009
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
22.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.6%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 40.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+16%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.1%(102,040)
Black2.5%(2,874)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(4,175)
Asian0.7%(783)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic68.5%(83,395)
Black10.6%(12,948)
Hispanic / Latino13.3%(16,198)
Asian1.2%(1,405)
Other6.4%(7,794)
Diversity Score
62
+90%since 2009
from 33 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican8.8%(10,692)
Central American1.9%(2,288)
Puerto Rican1.1%(1,375)
Honduran0.8%(1,021)
Salvadoran0.5%(558)
Guatemalan0.4%(539)
Venezuelan0.4%(439)
Cuban0.3%(315)
Colombian0.2%(258)
Dominican0.1%(154)
Spaniard0.1%(111)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Costa Rican0.1%(70)
Peruvian0%(42)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(432)
Chinese0.2%(300)
Asian Indian0.2%(223)
Thai0.1%(178)
Korean0.1%(123)
Vietnamese0.1%(93)
Pakistani0%(48)
Okinawan0%(38)
Taiwanese0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.9%(1,065)
Marshallese0.1%(94)
Guamanian0%(17)
Chamorro0%(13)
Ancestry
German15.5%(18,823)
English11%(13,422)
Irish10.7%(13,000)
American5.4%(6,533)
Italian3.4%(4,138)
Scottish2%(2,391)
French1.7%(2,062)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(1,364)
Polish0.9%(1,148)
Dutch0.9%(1,142)
Swedish0.8%(1,029)
Welsh0.6%(788)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.6%(736)
Portuguese0.3%(394)
British0.3%(373)
West Indian0.3%(370)
Russian0.3%(331)
Swiss0.2%(293)
Danish0.2%(273)
Czech0.2%(254)
Haitian0.2%(201)
Canadian0.1%(180)
Arab0.1%(172)
Austrian0.1%(164)
Greek0.1%(118)
Hungarian0.1%(104)
Lebanese0.1%(93)
Belgian0.1%(91)
Lithuanian0.1%(89)
Slovak0.1%(89)
Jamaican0.1%(85)
Romanian0.1%(75)
Finnish0.1%(74)
Croatian0.1%(67)
Nigerian0.1%(66)
Iranian0%(41)
Serbian0%(40)
Moroccan0%(28)
Guyanese0%(25)
Egyptian0%(23)
Kenyan0%(18)
Ukrainian0%(17)
Latvian0%(13)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.9%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.5%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+58%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.7%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 83.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.3%
+9.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 75.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
9.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.1%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
5.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.7%
+14.2 ptssince 2017
from 75.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2020
from 90.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
89.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2020
from 91.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
90.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 92.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2016
from 5.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.1%(17,210)
Married46.8%(22,329)
Widowed3.1%(1,491)
Divorced14%(6,676)
Women 15+
Never married29.7%(15,127)
Married43.2%(22,024)
Widowed11.2%(5,723)
Divorced15.8%(8,060)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
12.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
52.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 54.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 11.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
20.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 20.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
19.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 16.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.6%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 2.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
61.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2020
from 64.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
37.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 35.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)22.8%(1,559)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.3%(1,388)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.8%(2,175)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.9%(405)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.1%(73)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 6,838 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Compare Independence to nearby cities

INDEPENDENCE VS
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Income$88,920+47%
Home value$263,100+52%
Population61,632−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
INDEPENDENCE VS
Raytown
Income$68,840+14%
Home value$182,900+6%
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INDEPENDENCE VS
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Home value$283,800+64%
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INDEPENDENCE VS
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Income$69,166+15%
Home value$242,900+40%
Population521,220+328%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Independence, Missouri?

Independence, Missouri has about 121,740 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Independence, Missouri?

The typical household in Independence, Missouri earns about $60,339 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Independence, Missouri expensive?

In Independence, Missouri, the median home is worth about $172,900, and the typical rent is about $1,109 a month.

How educated are people in Independence, Missouri?

About 21.9% of adults age 25 and over in Independence, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Independence, Missouri?

About 15.8% of people in Independence, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Independence, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Independence, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,439 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Independence, Missouri: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy