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Independence Township vs Clay Township

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

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

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 →
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 →
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.

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

Independence Township and Clay Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Independence TownshipClay TownshipIndependence TownshipClay Township
Independence Township ↔ Clay 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−Independence TownshipBetter than 20% of districts in the state C−Clay TownshipBetter than 20% of districts in the state
Health
D−Independence TownshipHealthier than 3% of U.S. towns D−Clay TownshipHealthier than 4% 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
Independence TownshipClay Township
Snow a year3″4″
January low30°F—
July high90°F—
Growing season (days)240d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th84th
Outdoors & history
Independence TownshipClay Township
Trails63 mi248 mi
Conserved land2.6%5.8%
Archive photos6—
Community
Independence TownshipClay Township
Library hours a week48 hrs12 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

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.

Independence TownshipClay Township
People
Population 11,960Highest 1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.6%Highest MO: +2.8% -14.6%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 41.8±2.4Lowest 7% above MO 47.4±5.6Highest 22% 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 24.7%±3.1Highest MO: 22.3% 21.6%±4.2Lowest 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+ 20.2%±2.4Lowest MO: 17.9% 24%±5.4Highest 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+ 16.2%Highest MO: 32.4% 14.1%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.4%±0.8Highest MO: 5.7% 0.3%±1.2Lowest MO: 5.7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $55,521±$8kHighest 21% below MO $50,000±$28kLowest 29% 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 $114,400±$13kHighest 50% below MO $69,300±$33kLowest 70% 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 $639±$99Highest 38% below MO $406±$206Lowest 61% 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 $867Highest 55% below MO $585Lowest 70% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 29.5%±9Lowest MO: 45.6% 72.1%±67.2Highest 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 18.4%Lowest MO: 12.6% 27.7%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61.3%Lowest MO: 68.1% 80.5%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1970Lowest 8 yrs older than MO 1973Highest 5 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minLowest 7% below MO 24 minHighest 4% above MO
Work from home 3.4%±1.7Lowest MO: 13% 6.1%±7.3Highest 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 36.7%Highest 11.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.3 mi 16.3 mi
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.96Highest 0.44Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Kennett (36%)Kennett (14%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Clay TownshipFew work in Independence Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.6%Lowest 5.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 62.7 miLowest 248.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miLowest 2.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 7Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 8.4Highest 2.0Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #176 of 226 in MO—
School district KENNETT 39SENATH-HORNERSVILLE C-8
High school in town Kennett HighNone in town
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.

Independence Township neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 3d

Feeling at Home in Independence

1 neighbor in Independence Township can answer.

Clay Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clay Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Independence Township

S
+ Compare
Salem Township2,439 people · $81K homes
+ Compare
Holcomb Township1,213 people · $106K homes
F
+ Compare
Freeborn Township1,447 people · $54K homes

Towns like Independence Township

+ Compare
Kennett10,196 people · $112K homes
+ Compare
Bellefontaine Neighbors10,498 people · $100K homes
C
+ Compare
Center Township9,372 people · $149K homes
M
+ Compare
Moberly13,526 people · $153K 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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