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Compare towns

Elsmere vs Independence

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (29× in Independence) and household income (+69% in Independence).

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Elsmere, KYOne of the healthiest townsKentucky · 9,205 people
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Independence, KYAn outdoors townKentucky · 29,392 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.

ElsmereOne of the healthiest towns
Health68% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors#39 most walkable in KY0.2 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves Housing$222K typical home5% below the KY typical home All about Elsmere →
IndependenceAn outdoors town
Outdoors#17 most conserved land in KY5.8 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 81%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#26 for schools in KYof 126 towns 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.

Trails29×
Independence has more miles of trail
Independence 5.8 miElsmere 0.2 mi
Household income+69%
Households in Independence earn more
Independence $102,361Elsmere $60,503
Home values+53%
Homes cost more in Independence
Independence $263,700Elsmere $171,900
Property tax bill+49%
Tax bills are bigger in Independence
Independence $2,527Elsmere $1,700
Street grid2×
Elsmere has the more walkable street grid
Elsmere 66.5Independence 32.7
Typical home built29 yrs
Elsmere’s homes are older
Independence 1999Elsmere 1970
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $640 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.

Elsmere$1,340/mo
Typical home $222K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $1,351/mo · Housing →
Independence$1,980/mo
Typical home $328K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.96% · or rent about $1,250/mo · Housing →

The difference: $640 a month, about $7,600 a year, between Independence and Elsmere.

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

Independence places higher on 15 of 20 KY lists

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

Safety
B+ElsmereSafer than 68% of U.S. towns AIndependenceSafer than 92% of U.S. towns
Schools
A−ElsmereBetter than 80% of districts in the state A−IndependenceBetter than 84% of districts in the state
Health
CElsmereHealthier than 32% of U.S. towns A−IndependenceHealthier than 81% of U.S. towns
5Elsmere
15Independence

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Best schoolsSchools · 126 towns #121#26 Shortest commuteGetting around · 145 towns #28#132 Most walkableOutdoors · 145 towns #39#118 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 144 towns #90#15 Most conserved landOutdoors · 131 towns #80#17 Most affordableCost of living · 143 towns #56#111 Highest incomeIncome · 145 towns #70#17 Fewest smokersHealth · 144 towns #82#30

Left end = #1 in Kentucky. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Elsmere’s rankings →

Where they are

Elsmere and Independence share a border

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

ElsmereIndependenceElsmereIndependence
Elsmere ↔ Independence3.8 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
82 Elsmere residents work in Independence (1.8% of its workers)
Work & commute in Elsmere →
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
ElsmereIndependence
Snow a year23″23″
January low23°F23°F
July high86°F86°F
Growing season (days)188d188d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)24th23rd
Outdoors & history
ElsmereIndependence
Trails0 mi6 mi
Conserved land1.3%6.6%
Settled18961842
National Register places—3
Famous people born here1—
Community
ElsmereIndependence
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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.

ElsmereIndependence
People
Population 9,205Lowest 29,392Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +8.4%Lowest KY: +3.8% +15.8%Highest KY: +3.8%
Median age 30.6±3.5Lowest 22% below KY 33.7±1.5Highest 14% below KY
Independence and Elsmere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24%±4.3Lowest KY: 22.6% 27.9%±2.3Highest KY: 22.6%
Independence and Elsmere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 11.9%±2.7Highest KY: 17.3% 10.7%±1.4Lowest KY: 17.3%
Elsmere and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.3%Lowest KY: 27.6% 36.4%Highest KY: 27.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 9.1%±4.2Highest KY: 5.5% 4.9%±1.1Lowest KY: 5.5%
Elsmere and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $60,503±$10kLowest 5% below KY $102,361±$8kHighest 61% above KY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $171,900±$14kLowest 16% below KY $263,700±$11kHighest 28% above KY
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,351±$194Highest 40% above KY $1,250±$120Lowest 29% above KY
Elsmere and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,700Lowest 10% above KY $2,527Highest 64% above KY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 60.6%±19.2Highest KY: 45.4% 38.2%±10Lowest KY: 45.4%
Elsmere and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.6%Highest KY: 16.1% 8.8%Lowest KY: 16.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 75.1%Lowest KY: 68.3% 83.8%Highest KY: 68.3%
Typical home builtmedian year 1970Lowest 12 yrs older than KY 1999Highest 17 yrs newer than KY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 25% below KY 27 minHighest 13% above KY
Work from home 10.4%±3.3Lowest KY: 10.2% 13.6%±2Highest KY: 10.2%
Independence and Elsmere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.8%Lowest 4%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 6.3 miLowest 8.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.45Highest 0.33Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Florence (12%)Cincinnati (11%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 2% work in IndependenceFew work in Elsmere
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.3%Lowest 6.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 5.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 8Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 66.5Highest 32.7Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #121 of 126 in KY#26 of 126 in KY
School district Erlanger-Elsmere IndependentKenton County
High school in town None in townSimon Kenton High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 23.7
Kentucky 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.

Elsmere neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elsmere’s Town Square.

Independence neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Independence’s Town Square.

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Bordering Elsmere

+ Compare
Erlanger19,875 people · $209K homes

Towns like Elsmere

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Shepherdsville14,533 people · $222K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Kentucky towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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