Independence, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Independence, Oregon had a total population of 10,199, the 65th largest city in Oregon, with a median household income of $85,375, which is 3% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
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 | 10,088 | 10,199 | +1.1% |
| Median household income | $79,158 | $85,375 | +7.9% |
| Median home value | $345,200 | $378,800 | +9.7% |
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
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 46 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Independence Rankings in Oregon
Explore Oregon Rankings
Other Cities in Polk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 17,531 | $71,549 | 15.5% | $389,100 |
| Monmouth | 11,428 | $69,170 | 16.1% | $413,200 |
| Falls City | 1,222 | $51,250 | 19.8% | $302,900 |
| Rickreall | 52 | N/A | 26.9% | N/A |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molalla | 10,186 | $89,318 | $447,100 | 18.8% | 4.3% |
| North Bend | 10,171 | $81,320 | $352,300 | 28.5% | 14.0% |
| Eagle Point | 9,839 | $84,126 | $408,700 | 22.3% | 10.0% |
| Santa Clara | 10,551 | $88,344 | $415,100 | 30.1% | 8.9% |
| Silverton | 10,456 | $79,960 | $484,800 | 33.0% | 10.7% |
Population Overview
Independence is a small city located in Oregon, within Polk County. The total population is 10,199. It ranks as the 65th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.
Age Demographics
The median age in Independence is 30.7 years. This is 24% lower than the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Independence is $85,375. This is 3% higher than the state median of $83,011. It is also 6% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $378,800. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 54.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 63.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Independence is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 38.5%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (38.5% vs 14.7%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.
Education
27.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Independence, Oregon 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 Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Oregon. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Oregon city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Independence, Oregon?
Independence, Oregon has a population of 10,199 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Independence, OR?
The median household income in Independence is $85,375, which is 6% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Independence, OR?
The poverty rate in Independence is 12.5%. This means approximately 1,277 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Independence, Oregon?
Independence's population is 53.1% White, 0.6% Black, 38.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.1% Asian.
What is the median home value in Independence, OR?
The median home value in Independence is $378,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x.
How educated is Independence, Oregon?
27.0% of adults (25+) in Independence hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.