Compare towns

Independence vs Joplin

139 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (3.3× in Independence) and property tax bill (+65% in Independence).

Independence, MOA history townMissouri · 121,740 people

Joplin, MOA history townMissouri · 52,593 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.

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 →

JoplinA history town

HistorySettled in 187330 places on the National Register

Famous people53 notable peopleborn in Joplin Work39,694 jobsbased in Joplin, a regional job hub All about Joplin →

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.

Trails3.3×

Independence has more miles of trail

Independence 45.6 miJoplin 13.7 mi

Property tax bill+65%

Tax bills are bigger in Independence

Independence $1,914Joplin $1,158

Work in town+34.2 pts

More of Joplin’s workers stay in town

Joplin 50.3%Independence 16.1%

Jobs per worker2.8×

Joplin is more of a job hub

Joplin 1.88Independence 0.68

Typical home built18 yrs

Independence’s homes are older

Joplin 1985Independence 1967

Average commute6 min

Joplin has the shorter commute

Independence 24 minJoplin 18 min

★ What stands out · Report cards

Joplin places higher on 11 of 22 MO lists

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 DJoplinSafer than 5% of U.S. towns

Schools

C+IndependenceBetter than 38% of districts in the state C−JoplinBetter than 18% of districts in the state

Health

C−IndependenceHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns C−JoplinHealthier than 16% of U.S. towns

10Independence

11Joplin

Lists won, of 22 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most new homesHousing · 200 towns #138#45 Shortest commuteGetting around · 261 towns #171#56 Lowest obesityHealth · 261 towns #94#179 Lowest property taxCost of living · 259 towns #170#86 Most walkableOutdoors · 261 towns #166#93 Rent easiest to affordCost of living · 85 towns #78#59 Most trailsOutdoors · 151 towns #68#101 Highest incomeIncome · 261 towns #133#183

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Down paymentRate%

Independence$1,310/mo

Typical home $213K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $1,109/mo · Housing →

Joplin$1,210/mo

Typical home $207K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $962/mo · Housing →

The difference: $110 a month, about $1,300 a year, between Independence and Joplin.

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.

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

IndependenceJoplin

Snow a year13″8″

January low19°F 25°F

July high87°F 90°F

Growing season (days)198d 206d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)43rd 57th

Outdoors & history

IndependenceJoplin

Trails46 mi 14 mi

Conserved land4.8%2.7%

Settled1827 1873

National Register places26 30

Archive photos6 12

Famous people born here64 53

Community

IndependenceJoplin

Library hours a week69 hrs 61 hrs

Colleges in town—2

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined1 0

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.

Where they are

139 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

IndependenceMO JoplinMO

Independence ↔ Joplin139 miles apart

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.

Only big differences vs Missouri average

IndependenceJoplin

People

Population 121,740Highest 52,593Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5.3%Highest MO: +2.8% +3.2%Lowest MO: +2.8%

Median age 39±1.1Highest about the MO average 38.5±1.1Lowest about the MO average

Independence and Joplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 22.8%±1.1Highest MO: 22.3% 20.9%±1.5Lowest MO: 22.3%

Independence and Joplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 18.7%±0.9Lowest MO: 17.9% 19.4%±1.4Highest MO: 17.9%

Joplin and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.9%Lowest MO: 32.4% 26.7%Highest MO: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.5%±0.6Lowest MO: 5.7% 7.5%±0.9Highest MO: 5.7%

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $60,339±$2kHighest 15% below MO $52,097±$4kLowest 26% below MO

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $172,900±$3kHighest 25% below MO $168,300±$7kLowest 27% below MO

Independence and Joplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,109±$30Highest 7% above MO $962±$28Lowest 7% below MO

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,914Highest about the MO average $1,158Lowest 41% below MO

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.1%±4.7Highest MO: 45.6% 47.8%±5.1Lowest MO: 45.6%

Independence and Joplin 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% 16.9%Highest MO: 12.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 60.9%Highest MO: 68.1% 53.4%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 minHighest about the MO average 18 minLowest 23% below MO

Work from home 12.3%±1.5Highest MO: 13% 10%±2.1Lowest MO: 13%

Independence and Joplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 16.1%Lowest 50.3%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miHighest 4.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.68Lowest 1.88Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Kansas City (33%)Springfield (5%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JoplinFew work in Independence

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 4.8%Highest 2.7%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 45.6 miHighest 13.7 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miHighest 0.4 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 51Highest 15Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 54.1Lowest 74.8Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #169 of 226 in MO #159 of 226 in MO

School district BLUE SPRINGS R-IV · FORT OSAGE R-IDIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE · JOPLIN SCHOOLS

High school in town Truman HighJoplin High

Students per teacherat that high school 18.6Highest 18.4Lowest

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 · 4d

Choosing a School in Independence

1 neighbor in Independence can answer.

Joplin neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Joplin’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Independence and Joplin

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

Bordering Independence

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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

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Lee's Summit103,656 people · $341K homes

Towns like Independence

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St. Joseph71,236 people · $154K homes

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Florissant51,773 people · $149K homes

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Springfield169,954 people · $178K homes

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St. Charles71,508 people · $299K 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.

Independence vs Joplin

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Joplin places higher on 11 of 22 MO lists

A typical home costs about the same each month

What daily life feels like in each

139 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Choosing a School in Independence

Set another town beside Independence and Joplin

Bordering Independence

Towns like Independence

Post to Independence

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