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Independence vs Blue Summit

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (228× in Independence) and size (105.3× in Independence).

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Independence, MOA history townMissouri · 121,740 people
B ×
Blue Summit, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,156 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.

IndependenceA history town
HistorySettled in 182726 places on the National Register Famous people64 notable peopleborn in Independence Outdoors#45 most conserved land in MO46 miles of trails across 51 parks and preserves All about Independence →
Blue SummitOne of the healthiest towns
Health99% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Work555 jobsbased in Blue Summit, a regional job hub All about Blue Summit →
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.

Trails228×
Independence has more miles of trail
Independence 45.6 miBlue Summit 0.2 mi
Size105.3×
Independence is the bigger place
Independence 121,740Blue Summit 1,156
Home values5.2×
Homes cost more in Independence
Independence $172,900Blue Summit $33,500
Property tax bill2.2×
Tax bills are bigger in Independence
Independence $1,914Blue Summit $860
Jobs per worker3.5×
Blue Summit is more of a job hub
Blue Summit 2.40Independence 0.68
Age 65++15.5 pts
Independence has more people 65 and up
Independence 18.7%Blue Summit 3.2%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,060 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$1,310/mo
Typical home $213K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $1,109/mo · Housing →
Blue Summit$250/mo
Typical home $34K (Census) · tax rate 2.57% · or rent about $1,149/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,060 a month, about $12,800 a year, between Independence and Blue Summit.

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

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.

Safety
DIndependenceSafer than 14% of U.S. towns –Blue SummitNot graded
Schools
C+IndependenceBetter than 38% of districts in the state –Blue SummitNot graded
Health
C−IndependenceHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns D−Blue SummitHealthier than 1% of U.S. towns
Where they are

Independence and Blue Summit share a border

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

IndependenceBlue SummitIndependenceBlue Summit
Independence ↔ Blue Summit6.9 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
25 Blue Summit residents work in Independence (10.8% of its workers)
Work & commute in Blue Summit →
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
IndependenceBlue Summit
Snow a year13″13″
January low19°F19°F
July high87°F87°F
Growing season (days)198d198d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)43rd58th
Outdoors & history
IndependenceBlue Summit
Trails46 mi0 mi
Conserved land4.8%0%
Settled1827—
National Register places26—
Archive photos6—
Famous people born here64—
Community
IndependenceBlue Summit
Library hours a week69 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.

IndependenceBlue Summit
People
Population 121,740Highest 1,156Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5.3% MO: +2.8% —
Median age 39±1.1Highest about the MO average 29.3±10.8Lowest 25% below MO
Independence and Blue Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.8%±1.1Lowest MO: 22.3% 36.5%±13.5Highest MO: 22.3%
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.7%±0.9Highest MO: 17.9% 3.2%±3.9Lowest MO: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.9%Highest MO: 32.4% 0%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.5%±0.6Lowest MO: 5.7% 7.8%±7.4Highest MO: 5.7%
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $60,339±$2kHighest 15% below MO $58,813±$23kLowest 17% below MO
Independence and Blue Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $172,900±$3kHighest 25% below MO $33,500±$20kLowest 85% below MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,109±$30Lowest 7% above MO $1,149±$105Highest 11% above MO
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,914Highest about the MO average $860Lowest 56% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.1%±4.7Highest MO: 45.6% 36%±48.6Lowest MO: 45.6%
Independence and Blue Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.8%Lowest MO: 12.6% 36.5%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.9%Highest MO: 68.1% 42.4%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1967Lowest 11 yrs older than MO 1985Highest 7 yrs newer than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minLowest about the MO average 27 minHighest 16% above MO
Work from home 12.3%±1.5Lowest MO: 13% 40.3%±28.7Highest MO: 13%
Blue Summit and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 16.1%Highest 2.2%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miHighest 8.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.68Lowest 2.40Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Kansas City (33%)Kansas City (31%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Blue Summit11% work in Independence
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.8%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 45.6 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 51Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 54.1Lowest 59.9Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #169 of 226 in MO—
School district BLUE SPRINGS R-IV · FORT OSAGE R-I—
High school in town Truman High—
Students per teacherat that high school 18.6 —
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 neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 3d

Choosing a School in Independence

1 neighbor in Independence can answer.

Blue Summit neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Blue Summit’s Town Square.

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Set another town beside Independence and Blue Summit

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Bordering Independence

+ Compare
Blue Springs59,965 people · $263K homes
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Kansas City510,612 people · $243K homes
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Sugar Creek3,249 people · $137K homes
L
+ Compare
Lee's Summit103,656 people · $341K homes

Towns like Independence

+ Compare
St. Joseph71,236 people · $154K homes
+ Compare
Florissant51,773 people · $149K homes
+ Compare
Joplin52,593 people · $168K homes
+ Compare
Springfield169,954 people · $178K 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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