Independence, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 730, Independence's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Independence is a small community located in California, within Inyo County. The total population is 730. It ranks as the 1146th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Independence is 54.8 years. This is 45% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 12.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Independence is $73,850. This is 25% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.5%. This is 46% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $295,900. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 85.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 52% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Independence is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (65.9% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (12.0%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

26.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Independence, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.