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Blue Summit vs Independence

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (228× in Independence) and size (105.3× in Independence).

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Blue Summit, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,156 people
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Independence, MOA history townMissouri · 121,740 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

Blue SummitOne of the healthiest towns
Health99% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Work555 jobsbased in Blue Summit, a regional job hub All about Blue Summit →
IndependenceA history town
HistorySettled in 182726 places on the National Register Famous people64 notable peopleborn in Independence Outdoors#45 most conserved land in MO46 miles of trails across 51 parks and preserves All about Independence →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails228×
Independence has more miles of trail
Independence 45.6 miBlue Summit 0.2 mi
Size105.3×
Independence is the bigger place
Independence 121,740Blue Summit 1,156
Home values5.2×
Homes cost more in Independence
Independence $172,900Blue Summit $33,500
Property tax bill2.2×
Tax bills are bigger in Independence
Independence $1,914Blue Summit $860
Jobs per worker3.5×
Blue Summit is more of a job hub
Blue Summit 2.40Independence 0.68
Age 65++15.5 pts
Independence has more people 65 and up
Independence 18.7%Blue Summit 3.2%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,060 more a month in Independence

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Blue Summit$250/mo
Typical home $34K (Census) · tax rate 2.57% · or rent about $1,149/mo · Housing →
Independence$1,310/mo
Typical home $213K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $1,109/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,060 a month, about $12,800 a year, between Independence and Blue Summit.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Missouri ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–Blue SummitNot graded DIndependenceSafer than 14% of U.S. towns
Schools
–Blue SummitNot graded C+IndependenceBetter than 38% of districts in the state
Health
D−Blue SummitHealthier than 1% of U.S. towns C−IndependenceHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns
Where they are

Blue Summit and Independence share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

Blue SummitIndependenceBlue SummitIndependence
Blue Summit ↔ Independence6.9 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
25 Blue Summit residents work in Independence (10.8% of its workers)
Work & commute in Blue Summit →
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
Blue SummitIndependence
Snow a year13″13″
January low19°F19°F
July high87°F87°F
Growing season (days)198d198d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th43rd
Outdoors & history
Blue SummitIndependence
Trails0 mi46 mi
Conserved land0%4.8%
Settled—1827
National Register places—26
Archive photos—6
Famous people born here—64
Community
Blue SummitIndependence
Library hours a week—69 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Blue SummitIndependence
People
Population 1,156Lowest 121,740Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — +5.3% MO: +2.8%
Median age 29.3±10.8Lowest 25% below MO 39±1.1Highest about the MO average
Independence and Blue Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 36.5%±13.5Highest MO: 22.3% 22.8%±1.1Lowest MO: 22.3%
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 3.2%±3.9Lowest MO: 17.9% 18.7%±0.9Highest MO: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 0%Lowest MO: 32.4% 21.9%Highest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.8%±7.4Highest MO: 5.7% 3.5%±0.6Lowest MO: 5.7%
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $58,813±$23kLowest 17% below MO $60,339±$2kHighest 15% below MO
Independence and Blue Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $33,500±$20kLowest 85% below MO $172,900±$3kHighest 25% below MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,149±$105Highest 11% above MO $1,109±$30Lowest 7% above MO
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $860Lowest 56% below MO $1,914Highest about the MO average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 36%±48.6Lowest MO: 45.6% 53.1%±4.7Highest MO: 45.6%
Independence and Blue Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 36.5%Highest MO: 12.6% 15.8%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 42.4%Lowest MO: 68.1% 60.9%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1985Highest 7 yrs newer than MO 1967Lowest 11 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 16% above MO 24 minLowest about the MO average
Work from home 40.3%±28.7Highest MO: 13% 12.3%±1.5Lowest MO: 13%
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.2%Lowest 16.1%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.3 miLowest 10.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.40Highest 0.68Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Kansas City (31%)Kansas City (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 11% work in IndependenceFew work in Blue Summit
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 4.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 45.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 0.6 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 51Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.9Highest 54.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#169 of 226 in MO
School district —BLUE SPRINGS R-IV · FORT OSAGE R-I
High school in town —Truman High
Students per teacherat that high school — 18.6
Missouri average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Blue Summit neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Blue Summit’s Town Square.

Independence neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 3d

Choosing a School in Independence

1 neighbor in Independence can answer.

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Set another town beside Blue Summit and Independence

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Bordering Blue Summit

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Kansas City510,612 people · $243K homes

Towns like Blue Summit

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Hillsdale873 people · $53K homes
F
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Ferrelview752 people · $43K homes
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Lilbourn905 people · $57K homes
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Seligman941 people · $94K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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