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Independence vs Elsmere

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

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

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 →
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 →
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.

Independence$1,980/mo
Typical home $328K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.96% · or rent about $1,250/mo · Housing →
Elsmere$1,340/mo
Typical home $222K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $1,351/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
AIndependenceSafer than 92% of U.S. towns B+ElsmereSafer than 68% of U.S. towns
Schools
A−IndependenceBetter than 84% of districts in the state A−ElsmereBetter than 80% of districts in the state
Health
A−IndependenceHealthier than 81% of U.S. towns CElsmereHealthier than 32% of U.S. towns
15Independence
5Elsmere

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

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

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

Where they are

Independence and Elsmere share a border

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

IndependenceElsmereIndependenceElsmere
Independence ↔ Elsmere3.8 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
IndependenceElsmere
Snow a year23″23″
January low23°F23°F
July high86°F86°F
Growing season (days)188d188d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd24th
Outdoors & history
IndependenceElsmere
Trails6 mi0 mi
Conserved land6.6%1.3%
Settled18421896
National Register places3—
Famous people born here—1
Community
IndependenceElsmere
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.

IndependenceElsmere
People
Population 29,392Highest 9,205Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +15.8%Highest KY: +3.8% +8.4%Lowest KY: +3.8%
Median age 33.7±1.5Highest 14% below KY 30.6±3.5Lowest 22% 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 27.9%±2.3Highest KY: 22.6% 24%±4.3Lowest 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+ 10.7%±1.4Lowest KY: 17.3% 11.9%±2.7Highest 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+ 36.4%Highest KY: 27.6% 24.3%Lowest KY: 27.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.9%±1.1Lowest KY: 5.5% 9.1%±4.2Highest 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 $102,361±$8kHighest 61% above KY $60,503±$10kLowest 5% below KY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $263,700±$11kHighest 28% above KY $171,900±$14kLowest 16% below KY
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,250±$120Lowest 29% above KY $1,351±$194Highest 40% 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 $2,527Highest 64% above KY $1,700Lowest 10% above KY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 38.2%±10Lowest KY: 45.4% 60.6%±19.2Highest 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 8.8%Lowest KY: 16.1% 15.6%Highest KY: 16.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.8%Highest KY: 68.3% 75.1%Lowest KY: 68.3%
Typical home builtmedian year 1999Highest 17 yrs newer than KY 1970Lowest 12 yrs older than KY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 13% above KY 18 minLowest 25% below KY
Work from home 13.6%±2Highest KY: 10.2% 10.4%±3.3Lowest 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 4%Highest 1.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.8 miHighest 6.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.33Lowest 0.45Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Cincinnati (11%)Florence (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Elsmere2% work in Independence
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 6.6%Highest 1.3%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 5.8 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 32.7Lowest 66.5Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #26 of 126 in KY#121 of 126 in KY
School district Kenton CountyErlanger-Elsmere Independent
High school in town Simon Kenton High SchoolNone in town
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.

Independence neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Independence’s Town Square.

Elsmere neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elsmere’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Independence and Elsmere

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Bordering Independence

+ Compare
Erlanger19,875 people · $209K homes
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Ryland Heights789 people · $214K homes
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Covington41,110 people · $187K homes

Towns like Independence

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Mount Washington18,480 people · $268K homes
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Jeffersontown29,199 people · $251K homes
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Georgetown39,117 people · $265K homes
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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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