Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Independence Township vs Salem Township

Next-door neighbors in Dunklin County. The biggest differences: trails (7.1× in Independence Township) and size (4.9× in Independence Township).

I ×
Independence Township, MOOne of the healthiest townsDunklin County · 11,960 people
S ×
Salem Township, MOOne of the healthiest townsDunklin County · 2,439 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.

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 →
Salem TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health98% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 15%of MO districts All about Salem 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.

Trails7.1×
Independence Township has more miles of trail
Independence Township 62.7 miSalem Township 8.8 mi
Size4.9×
Independence Township is the bigger place
Independence Township 11,960Salem Township 2,439
Property tax bill+56%
Tax bills are bigger in Independence Township
Independence Township $867Salem Township $554
Home values+42%
Homes cost more in Independence Township
Independence Township $114,400Salem Township $80,700
Work in town+23.5 pts
More of Independence Township’s workers stay in town
Independence Township 36.7%Salem Township 13.2%
Growth since 2010+9.5 pts
Independence Township has grown faster since 2010
Independence Township -5.6%Salem Township -15.1%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $200 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 →
Salem Township$470/mo
Typical home $81K (Census) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $565/mo · Housing →

The difference: $200 a month, about $2,400 a year, between Independence Township and Salem 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 Salem Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Independence TownshipSalem TownshipIndependence TownshipSalem Township
Independence Township ↔ Salem Township12 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−Salem TownshipBetter than 15% of districts in the state
Health
D−Independence TownshipHealthier than 3% of U.S. towns D−Salem TownshipHealthier than 2% 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 TownshipSalem Township
Snow a year3″4″
January low30°F—
July high90°F—
Growing season (days)240d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th81st
Outdoors & history
Independence TownshipSalem Township
Trails63 mi9 mi
Conserved land2.6%3.9%
Archive photos610
Community
Independence TownshipSalem Township
Library hours a week48 hrs20 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 TownshipSalem Township
People
Population 11,960Highest 2,439Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.6%Highest MO: +2.8% -15.1%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 41.8±2.4Highest 7% above MO 37±5.7Lowest 5% below MO
Independence Township and Salem Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.7%±3.1Lowest MO: 22.3% 28.7%±4.7Highest MO: 22.3%
Salem Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 20.2%±2.4Highest MO: 17.9% 17.2%±3.1Lowest MO: 17.9%
Independence Township and Salem 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% 8.9%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.4%±0.8Highest MO: 5.7% 2.1%±1.7Lowest MO: 5.7%
Independence Township and Salem Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $55,521±$8kHighest 21% below MO $40,352±$9kLowest 43% below MO
Independence Township and Salem 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 $80,700±$17kLowest 65% below MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $639±$99Highest 38% below MO $565±$117Lowest 45% below MO
Independence Township and Salem 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 $554Lowest 72% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 29.5%±9Lowest MO: 45.6% 57.4%±8.4Highest MO: 45.6%
Below poverty line 18.4%Lowest MO: 12.6% 23.1%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61.3%Lowest MO: 68.1% 64%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 27 minHighest 16% above MO
Work from home 3.4%±1.7Highest MO: 13% 2.2%±1.9Lowest MO: 13%
Independence Township and Salem 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 13.2%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.3 miLowest 19.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.96Highest 0.63Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Kennett (36%)Kennett (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Salem TownshipFew work in Independence Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.6%Lowest 3.9%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 62.7 miHighest 8.8 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 7Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 8.4Highest 4.8Lowest
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 HighSenath-Hornersville High Schoo
Students per teacherat that high school 14.7Highest 12.3Lowest
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.

Salem Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Salem Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Independence Township and Salem Township

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Independence Township

C
+ Compare
Clay Township1,101 people · $69K 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.

Post to Independence Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in