City · Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence, city, in Jackson County, Missouri. Independence had 121,675 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 123,011 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 121,740 (±60). GEOID 2935000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
121,675
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 123,011 · ACS 2020-2024: 121,740 ±60
Median household income
$60,339
±$2,199 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$172,900
±$3,239 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$1,109
±$30 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Independence and what county is it in?
Independence is a city in Jackson County, Missouri. It covers 78.0 square miles of land, 1,577 residents per square mile in 2020.
Independence is in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 14 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 123,011 | 100.0% |
| Clay County | land only, no residents | – |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Independence, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 121,675 people lived in Independence on July 1, 2025, down 1.0% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. The 2020 Census counted 123,011 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 121,740 (±60).
| Measure | Independence | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 121,740 ±60 | 719,976 | +4,656 |
| Households | 51,477 ±1,040 | 306,798 | +3,390 |
| Average household size | 2.34 ±0.05 | 2.31 | −0.07 |
| Housing units | 56,084 ±954 | 336,288 | +2,545 |
Independence's population since 2000
From 113,288 in 2000 to 121,675 in 2025: up 7.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Independence as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Independence?
The median resident of Independence is 39.0 years old; 22.8% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 68.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.3%. 5.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Independence | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 ±1.1 | 37.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.8% ±1.0 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.7% ±0.8 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Male | 48.6% ±0.9 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.3% ±1.2 pts | 11.4% | +3.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 68.5% ±1.6 pts | 59.3% | −7.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 10.6% ±1.3 pts | 22.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.2% ±0.7 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.7% ±0.7 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.4% ±1.2 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3% ±0.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 17.6% ±1.2 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.6% ±1.1 pts | 10.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.5% ±1.4 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.9% ±1.3 pts | 34.0% | +2.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.4% ±0.7 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.2% ±1.5 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4% ±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Independence earn?
Half of Independence's 51,477 households earn less than $60,339 a year (±$2,199), against $68,577 in Jackson County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $62,263 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Independence | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,339 ±$2,199 | $68,577 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $77,259 ±$2,844 | $92,204 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,713 ±$1,109 | $39,559 | −$1,632 |
| People below the poverty line | 15.8% ±1.4 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.8% ±3.3 pts | 19.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.6% ±1.2 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.7% ±0.9 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.7% ±1.1 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Independence?
Owners occupy 60.9% of Independence's occupied homes and renters 39.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $172,900 by its owner (±$3,239). The median renter pays $1,109 a month including utilities, and 45.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Independence | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $172,900 ±$3,239 | $230,500 | +$32,478 |
| Median gross rent | $1,109 ±$30 | $1,197 | +$46 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.0% ±4.1 pts | 41.1% | +8.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,387 ±$23 | $1,639 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.9% ±2.1 pts | 59.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.1% ±2.1 pts | 40.9% | – |
| Housing units | 56,084 ±954 | 336,288 | +2,545 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4% ±1.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.8% ±1.6 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.7% ±0.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.2% ±1.2 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.1% ±1.2 pts | 8.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Independence building?
Builders took permits for 140 new housing units in Independence in 2025 (48 in single-family houses), 1.2 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Independence work and get to work?
77.7% of Independence's workers drive alone and 12.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.
| Measure | Independence | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.2% ±1.3 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% ±1.1 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.7% ±1.7 pts | 72.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.9% ±1.1 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.3% ±1.5 pts | 15.8% | +8.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.9 min ±0.6 | 23.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Independence?
34 census tracts lie mostly in Independence, and 9 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $19,143 (Tract 114.05) to $126,587 (Tract 148.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 122Jackson County | 6,510 | $67,450 |
| Tract 114.06Jackson County | 5,891 | $78,683 |
| Tract 121Jackson County | 5,380 | $59,857 |
| Tract 177Jackson County | 5,221 | $85,231 |
| Tract 146.04Jackson County | 5,135 | $52,965 |
| Tract 146.01Jackson County | 4,941 | $72,614 |
| Tract 118Jackson County | 4,933 | $45,055 |
| Tract 147.02Jackson County | 4,921 | $109,568 |
| Tract 124Jackson County | 4,327 | $58,906 |
| Tract 115.01Jackson County | 4,295 | $52,891 |
| Tract 113Jackson County | 4,214 | $61,067 |
| Tract 147.01Jackson County | 3,964 | $65,040 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Independence) · Census block assignment files
How does Independence compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Independence is the 251st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 5th-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Independence ranks 191st of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 5th | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 274th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 105th | 420 |
| Median household income | 191st | 416 |
| Per capita income | 157th | 420 |
| Median home value | 173rd | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 95th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 184th | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 176th | 404 |
| Median age | 194th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 278th | 418 |
| Work from home | 116th | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 171st | 420 |
Independence's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Independence with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Independence?
1 of the 57 figures for Independence on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Independence are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Independence.