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Big small town

Living in Independence, KS

Independence is a big small town of 8,422 people in Montgomery County, Kansas. It's about 68 miles from Joplin, MO and 77 miles from Tulsa, OK, the nearest major city. Summer highs average 91°F and winter highs 45°F, with about 8 inches of snow a year. The typical home is valued around $89k and rent runs about $789 a month.

8,422people
$89kTypical home
$789/moRent
91° / 45°Summer / winter
8"Snow
260Sunny days
93Rain/snow days

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Size & setting

  • Big small town of 8,422
  • A standalone small town, not a suburb
  • About 1,124 people per sq mi
  • 77 mi to Tulsa, OK
  • 68 mi to Joplin, MO
  • 37 mi to the nearest town of 10k+

Money

  • Typical home $89k (≈$560/mo)
  • Median rent $789/mo
  • Median household income $51k
  • Property tax about 1.8% of value
  • 7.0% unemployment

Weather

  • Summer highs around 91°F
  • Winter highs around 45°F
  • Muggy summers (dew point 68°F)
  • 260 sunny days a year (114 totally clear)
  • 105 cloudy days a year
  • 32 of 90 winter days are gray
  • 93 days a year with rain or snow
  • 8" of snow a year
  • 3 days a year with 1"+ of snow
  • 6 days a year over 100°F
  • 8 nights a year below 10°F
  • Breezy

Safety

  • Low violent crime (271 per 100k), county-wide
  • Low property crime (1,018 per 100k), county-wide

People

  • Median age 38
  • 25% of households have kids
  • 19% are 65 or older
  • 28% have a college degree
  • Mixed community
  • 4% of residents are college students

Getting around & homes

  • Average commute 17 min
  • 2% walk or take transit to work
  • 67 mi to JLN airport
  • 72 mi to TUL (major hub)
  • 105 mi to the nearest Amtrak station
  • 82% single-family homes
  • Typical home built around 1954
  • 89% of homes have broadband

Outdoors

  • Flat, open land
  • Elevation 804 ft
  • 512 mi to the ocean
  • 222 mi to a big lake
  • 4 mi to the nearest trailhead
  • 138 mi to the nearest ski area
  • 3 mi to the nearest campground
  • 5 golf courses within 25 mi

Things to do

  • 30 sit-down restaurants within 25 mi
  • 3 bars within 25 mi
  • 7 coffee shops within 25 mi
  • No music venues & clubs within 25 mi
  • 4 museums within 25 mi
  • 1 brewery or distillery within 25 mi
  • 60 mi to the nearest farmers market

Everyday

  • Schools in the top 46% of Kansas districts (reading)
  • 2 mi to the nearest grocery store
  • 13 mi to the nearest ER hospital
  • 59 mi to a 4–5★ hospital
  • 2 mi to the nearest vet
  • 27 mi to the nearest dog park
  • 16 congregations per 10k people
  • 57 mi to the nearest college

Politics

  • Montgomery County: R+51 in 2024
  • Kansas: R+16 in 2024

Natural hazards

  • Very low hurricane risk
  • High tornado risk
  • Low wildfire risk
  • Very low earthquake risk
  • Moderate flood risk
  • Moderate drought risk
  • Moderate winter storm risk
  • High heat wave risk
  • Very low volcano risk

Places near Independence

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