City · Oregon
Independence, Oregon
Independence, city, in Polk County, Oregon. Independence had 10,195 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,828 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 10,199 (±31). GEOID 4136150.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
10,195
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,828 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,199 ±31
Median household income
$85,375
±$8,821 (90% margin)
Oregon: $83,011
Median home value
$378,800
±$21,161 (90% margin)
Oregon: $477,600
Median gross rent
$1,665
±$126 (90% margin)
Oregon: $1,525
Where is Independence and what county is it in?
Independence is a city in Polk County, Oregon. It covers 3.0 square miles of land, 3,271 residents per square mile in 2020.
Independence is in the Salem, OR metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
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 10,195 people lived in Independence on July 1, 2025, up 3.6% since 2020, faster than Oregon (+0.9%). The 2020 Census counted 9,828 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 10,199 (±31).
| Measure | Independence | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,199 ±31 | 89,662 | +357 |
| Households | 3,151 ±265 | 32,986 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.22 ±0.27 | 2.65 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,195 ±272 | 34,867 | no clear change |
Independence's population since 2000
From 6,035 in 2000 to 10,195 in 2025: up 68.9%. 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 30.7 years old; 22.6% are under 18 and 10.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 53.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 38.5%. 9.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Independence | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.7 ±2.5 | 37.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.6% ±2.8 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.8% ±1.6 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Male | 50.9% ±3.0 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 38.5% ±6.1 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 53.1% ±5.9 pts | 73.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 1.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.5% ±2.4 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.0% ±2.7 pts | 6.3% | −4.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 25.5% ±5.7 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5% ±2.3 pts | 9.1% | – |
| With a disability | 12.4% ±2.5 pts | 17.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.5% ±4.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.5% ±4.2 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.0% ±4.8 pts | 31.2% | +7.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.2% ±2.2 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.9% ±4.2 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
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 3,151 households earn less than $85,375 a year (±$8,821), against $85,118 in Polk County and $83,011 in Oregon. In 2015-2019 the median was $65,964 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $19,411 after inflation. 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Independence | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,375 ±$8,821 | $85,118 | +$19,411 |
| Mean household income | $96,481 ±$8,242 | $107,909 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,794 ±$2,919 | $40,635 | +$6,011 |
| People below the poverty line | 12.5% ±5.6 pts | 12.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.4% ±13.2 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 29.4% ±6.0 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5% ±3.3 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.4% ±3.9 pts | 91.3% | – |
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 54.6% of Independence's occupied homes and renters 45.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $378,800 by its owner (±$21,161). The median renter pays $1,665 a month including utilities, and 29.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Independence | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $378,800 ±$21,161 | $454,700 | +$126,508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,665 ±$126 | $1,299 | +$375 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.9% ±11.3 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,947 ±$99 | $2,095 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.6% ±6.4 pts | 64.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.4% ±6.4 pts | 35.3% | – |
| Housing units | 3,195 ±272 | 34,867 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.0% ±4.7 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 57.4% ±5.5 pts | 66.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% ±1.5 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.5% ±2.1 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 18.1% ±5.3 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.3% ±2.6 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.6% ±3.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
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 2 new housing units in Independence in 2025 (2 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 11 of 12 months), 0.2 per 1,000 residents against 3.5 across Oregon.
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?
73.2% of Independence's workers drive alone and 13.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.9 minutes.
| Measure | Independence | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.2% ±4.3 pts | 59.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% ±3.0 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 73.2% ±6.2 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.3% ±5.1 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±1.1 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.2% ±3.2 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.9 min ±2.3 | 25.3 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?
1 census tract lies mostly in Independence, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 203.05Polk County | 9,236 | $84,429 |
| Tract 203.03Polk County | 5,466 | $69,708 |
| Tract 203.04Polk County | 7,594 | $79,948 |
| Tract 203.06Polk County | 2,187 | $114,500 |
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 Oregon?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Independence is the 3,168th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 53rd-most populous of 240 in Oregon.
Independence ranks 88th of 223 places in Oregon with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 53rd | 240 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 38th | 162 |
| Residents per square mile | 62nd | 224 |
| Median household income | 88th | 223 |
| Per capita income | 171st | 224 |
| Median home value | 129th | 224 |
| Median gross rent | 46th | 207 |
| Poverty rate | 81st | 175 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 99th | 219 |
| Median age | 220th | 224 |
| Owner-occupied share | 198th | 224 |
| Work from home | 102nd | 169 |
| Travel time to work | 85th | 221 |
Independence's figures with every place in Oregon (CSV)
Every place in Oregon, 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?
14 of the 57 figures for Independence 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 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.