Town · New York

Town of Independence, New York

Independence (town), town, in Allegany County, New York. Independence (town) had 1,076 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,085 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 756 (±132). GEOID 3600337297.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,076

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,085 · ACS 2020-2024: 756 ±132

Median household income

$68,750

±$15,451 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974

Median home value

$100,800

±$27,119 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800

Median gross rent

$609

±$84 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621

Where is Independence (town) and what county is it in?

Independence (town) is a town in Allegany County, New York. It covers 34.5 square miles of land, 31 residents per square mile in 2020.

Independence (town) (marked with a dot) in Allegany County, New York. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Independence (town), and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,076 people lived in Independence (town) on July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, a smaller fall than New York's (−1.0%). The 2020 Census counted 1,085 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 756 (±132).

  • July 2020→2021 −3 (1,076)
  • 2021→2022 +0 (1,076)
  • 2022→2023 −3 (1,073)
  • 2023→2024 +5 (1,078)
  • 2024→2025 −2 (1,076)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureIndependence (town)Allegany CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Total population756±13247,15919,852,366−214
Households344±5517,7107,722,646no clear change
Average household size2.20±0.242.392.49no clear change
Housing units431±6423,5408,585,241−121

Independence (town)'s population since 2000

From 1,074 in 2000 to 1,076 in 2025: up 0.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Independence (town) 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.

  • 2000 Census 1,074
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,124
  • 2010 Census 1,167
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,166
  • 2020 Census 1,085
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,076

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 (town)?

The median resident of Independence (town) is 41.9 years old; 21.2% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 98.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 1.5%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureIndependence (town)Allegany CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median age41.9±5.938.739.8no clear change
Under 18 years21.2%±5.8 pts19.6%20.5%–
65 years and over18.7%±5.5 pts20.1%17.9%–
Male50.8%±5.4 pts50.9%48.8%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.0%±5.5 pts2.2%19.8%–
White alone, not Hispanic98.5%±1.9 pts92.7%52.8%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±5.5 pts1.5%13.4%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±5.5 pts1.4%9.0%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±5.5 pts0.1%0.2%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±5.5 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.5%±1.9 pts2.0%3.8%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±5.5 pts0.1%1.0%–
Born outside the United States0.0%±5.5 pts1.8%22.8%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)1.8%±2.0 pts5.0%30.9%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)8.9%±4.7 pts7.9%3.7%–
With a disability11.1%±4.2 pts16.7%12.6%–
No health insurance coverage13.5%±6.9 pts5.2%5.1%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)88.0%±5.2 pts91.7%88.0%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)12.4%±4.6 pts24.9%40.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)5.3%±3.3 pts12.0%17.9%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier95.2%±4.2 pts87.7%90.1%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.9%±2.8 pts2.1%1.5%–

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 (town) earn?

Half of Independence (town)'s 344 households earn less than $68,750 a year (±$15,451), against $62,869 in Allegany County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $56,536 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureIndependence (town)Allegany CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$68,750±$15,451$62,869$85,974no clear change
Mean household income$88,875±$16,006$76,480$128,247–
Per capita income$40,043±$8,259$29,954$50,712+$11,957
People below the poverty line6.3%±4.7 pts16.2%14.0%–
Children under 18 below the poverty line15.0%±13.1 pts19.3%18.3%–
Households receiving SNAP7.6%±4.0 pts15.9%15.6%–
Households with a computer89.5%±6.3 pts92.1%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription86.9%±5.8 pts86.7%90.8%–

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 (town)?

Owners occupy 83.1% of Independence (town)'s occupied homes and renters 16.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $100,800 by its owner (±$27,119). The median renter pays $609 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureIndependence (town)Allegany CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$100,800±$27,119$101,700$423,800no clear change
Median gross rent$609±$84$763$1,621no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent12.7%±13.4 pts38.9%43.1%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,284±$180$1,243$2,555–
Owner-occupied homes83.1%±7.9 pts79.3%54.3%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes16.9%±7.9 pts20.7%45.7%–
Housing units431±6423,5408,585,241−121
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±13.8 pts0.8%1.1%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±44.5 pts6.4%3.8%–
Single-family detached homes72.4%±8.1 pts72.0%41.2%–
Mobile homes19.5%±7.5 pts16.1%2.1%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±9.4 pts0.6%0.8%–
Built 2010 to 20195.1%±4.3 pts4.5%5.3%–
Built 1939 or earlier26.2%±7.7 pts31.3%30.3%–
Households with no vehicle3.8%±3.6 pts7.7%29.2%–

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 (town) building?

Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Independence (town) in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.9 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.

  • 2019 2 units
  • 2020 2 units
  • 2021 2 units
  • 2022 2 units
  • 2023 5 units
  • 2024 1 units
  • 2025 1 units

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 (town) work and get to work?

81.3% of Independence (town)'s workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 29.4 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureIndependence (town)Allegany CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)65.7%±5.9 pts53.8%62.7%–
Unemployment rate2.7%±3.0 pts7.1%6.4%–
Drove alone to work81.3%±9.3 pts75.0%48.8%–
Carpooled16.4%±9.1 pts7.9%6.3%–
Public transportation0.0%±10.3 pts0.2%21.6%–
Walked1.0%±1.5 pts6.8%5.6%–
Worked from home1.3%±1.5 pts8.8%14.9%–
Mean travel time to work29.4 min±8.022.8 min32.6 minno 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 (town)?

No census tract lies mostly in Independence (town); 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Independence (town), ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Independence (town)
Tract 9509Allegany County3,651 $63,856 $98,90019%
Tract 9510Allegany County3,173 $67,940 $84,30021%

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 (town)) · Census block assignment files

How does Independence (town) compare with other places in New York?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Independence (town) is the 7,345th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 786th-most populous of 924 in New York.

Independence (town) ranks 1,163rd of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Independence (town)'s rank in New York (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate786th924
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)438th1,225
Residents per square mile1,553rd1,657
Median household income1,163rd1,623
Per capita income956th1,653
Median home value1,572nd1,637
Median gross rent1,501st1,515
Bachelor's degree or higher1,589th1,640
Median age1,011th1,654
Owner-occupied share614th1,639
Travel time to work552nd1,652

Independence (town)'s figures with every place in New York (CSV)

Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Independence (town) 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 (town)?

22 of the 57 figures for Independence (town) on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are 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 (town) 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' school search.