Independence, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Independence, Missouri had a total population of 121,740, the 5th largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $60,339, which is 15% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Independence is the 5th largest city in Missouri with a population of 121,740.
Independence Quick Facts
How Independence Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 121,944 | 121,740 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $59,480 | $60,339 | +1.4% |
| Median home value | $166,400 | $172,900 | +3.9% |
How Independence Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Independence Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Jackson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 510,612 | $69,166 | 14.6% | $242,900 |
| Lee's Summit | 103,656 | $102,531 | 5.7% | $340,900 |
| Blue Springs | 59,965 | $88,920 | 7.0% | $263,100 |
| Raytown | 29,445 | $68,840 | 12.5% | $182,900 |
| Grandview | 26,527 | $53,447 | 17.9% | $188,500 |
| Grain Valley | 16,271 | $89,649 | 9.8% | $283,800 |
| Pleasant Hill | 8,847 | $95,602 | 6.0% | $278,400 |
| Oak Grove | 8,538 | $75,102 | 8.6% | $215,500 |
| Greenwood | 6,013 | $107,250 | 3.2% | $286,100 |
| Sugar Creek | 3,249 | $62,165 | 14.6% | $136,600 |
Cities Similar to Independence
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 128,548 | $66,498 | $284,600 | 56.7% | 19.3% |
| Lee's Summit | 103,656 | $102,531 | $340,900 | 48.8% | 5.7% |
| Springfield | 169,954 | $49,311 | $177,700 | 31.4% | 18.4% |
| St. Joseph | 71,236 | $57,956 | $154,200 | 23.0% | 17.7% |
| O'Fallon | 93,801 | $110,443 | $326,200 | 43.3% | 5.4% |
Population Overview
Independence is a major urban center located in Missouri, within Jackson County. The total population is 121,740. It ranks as the 5th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Independence is 39.0 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Independence is $60,339. This is 15% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $172,900. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Independence is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 60.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Independence is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (13.3% vs 5.2%).
Education
21.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Independence, Missouri 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 Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Independence, Missouri?
Independence, Missouri has a population of 121,740 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Independence, MO?
The median household income in Independence is $60,339, which is 25% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Independence, MO?
The poverty rate in Independence is 15.8%. This means approximately 19,029 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Independence, Missouri?
Independence's population is 68.5% White, 10.6% Black, 13.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.1% Asian.
What is the median home value in Independence, MO?
The median home value in Independence is $172,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.9x.
How educated is Independence, Missouri?
21.9% of adults (25+) in Independence hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.