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Clay Township vs Independence Township

Next-door neighbors in Dunklin County. The biggest differences: size (10.9× in Independence Township) and street grid (4.2× in Independence Township).

C ×
Clay Township, MOOne of the healthiest townsDunklin County · 1,101 people
I ×
Independence Township, MOOne of the healthiest townsDunklin County · 11,960 people
Swap order
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.

Clay TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health96% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 20%of MO districts All about Clay Township →
Independence TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health97% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors#71 most trails in MO63 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 20%of MO districts All about Independence Township →
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.

Size10.9×
Independence Township is the bigger place
Independence Township 11,960Clay Township 1,101
Street grid4.2×
Independence Township has the more walkable street grid
Independence Township 8.4Clay Township 2.0
Trails4×
Clay Township has more miles of trail
Clay Township 248.3 miIndependence Township 62.7 mi
Property tax bill+48%
Tax bills are bigger in Independence Township
Independence Township $867Clay Township $585
Work in town+25.3 pts
More of Independence Township’s workers stay in town
Independence Township 36.7%Clay Township 11.4%
Homeowners+19.2 pts renters
Independence Township has more renters
Clay Township 80.5%Independence Township 61.3%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $260 more a month in Independence Township

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.

Clay Township$410/mo
Typical home $69K (Census) · tax rate 0.84% · or rent about $406/mo · Housing →
Independence Township$670/mo
Typical home $114K (Census) · tax rate 0.76% · or rent about $639/mo · Housing →

The difference: $260 a month, about $3,100 a year, between Independence Township and Clay Township.

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.

Where they are

Clay Township and Independence Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Clay TownshipIndependence TownshipClay TownshipIndependence Township
Clay Township ↔ Independence Township11 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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.

Schools
C−Clay TownshipBetter than 20% of districts in the state C−Independence TownshipBetter than 20% of districts in the state
Health
D−Clay TownshipHealthier than 4% of U.S. towns D−Independence TownshipHealthier than 3% of U.S. towns
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
Clay TownshipIndependence Township
Snow a year4″3″
January low—30°F
July high—90°F
Growing season (days)—240d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th84th
Outdoors & history
Clay TownshipIndependence Township
Trails248 mi63 mi
Conserved land5.8%2.6%
Archive photos—6
Community
Clay TownshipIndependence Township
Library hours a week12 hrs48 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.

Clay TownshipIndependence Township
People
Population 1,101Lowest 11,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -14.6%Lowest MO: +2.8% -5.6%Highest MO: +2.8%
Median age 47.4±5.6Highest 22% above MO 41.8±2.4Lowest 7% above MO
Clay Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.6%±4.2Lowest MO: 22.3% 24.7%±3.1Highest MO: 22.3%
Independence Township and Clay Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 24%±5.4Highest MO: 17.9% 20.2%±2.4Lowest MO: 17.9%
Clay Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 14.1%Lowest MO: 32.4% 16.2%Highest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.3%±1.2Lowest MO: 5.7% 2.4%±0.8Highest MO: 5.7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $50,000±$28kLowest 29% below MO $55,521±$8kHighest 21% below MO
Independence Township and Clay Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $69,300±$33kLowest 70% below MO $114,400±$13kHighest 50% below MO
Independence Township and Clay Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $406±$206Lowest 61% below MO $639±$99Highest 38% below MO
Independence Township and Clay Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $585Lowest 70% below MO $867Highest 55% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 72.1%±67.2Highest MO: 45.6% 29.5%±9Lowest MO: 45.6%
Clay Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 27.7%Highest MO: 12.6% 18.4%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 80.5%Highest MO: 68.1% 61.3%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1973Highest 5 yrs older than MO 1970Lowest 8 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minHighest 4% above MO 22 minLowest 7% below MO
Work from home 6.1%±7.3Highest MO: 13% 3.4%±1.7Lowest MO: 13%
Clay Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.4%Lowest 36.7%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.3 mi 16.3 mi
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.44Lowest 0.96Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Kennett (14%)Kennett (36%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Independence TownshipFew work in Clay Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 5.8%Highest 2.6%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 248.3 miHighest 62.7 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.1 miHighest 0.6 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 7Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.0Lowest 8.4Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#176 of 226 in MO
School district SENATH-HORNERSVILLE C-8KENNETT 39
High school in town None in townKennett High
Students per teacherat that high school — 14.7
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.

Clay Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clay Township’s Town Square.

Independence Township neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 3d

Feeling at Home in Independence

1 neighbor in Independence Township can answer.

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Set another town beside Clay Township and Independence Township

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Bordering Clay Township

S
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Salem Township2,439 people · $81K homes

Towns like Clay Township

D
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Davis Township1,124 people · $95K homes
M
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Marion Township781 people · $70K homes
B
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Braymer795 people · $82K homes
H
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Hurricane Township845 people · $109K 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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