What stands out worked out from the figures below

Independence has the highest household income ($69k).

West Union has the most people working from home (8.9%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Independence	West Union
People
Population	756Highest	520Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	41.9±5.9Highest 5% above NY	37.2±9.8Lowest 7% below NY
	Independence and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±11.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	West Union and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9%	15.2%±7.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Independence and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	14.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	1.2%±1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$15kHighest 20% below NY	$59,750±$15kLowest 31% below NY
	Independence and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY	$112,500±$12kHighest 73% below NY
	West Union and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY	$763±$350Highest 53% below NY
	West Union and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,606Lowest 60% below NY	$3,259Highest 50% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.6%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	West Union and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest NY: 14%	18.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	29 minLowest 11% below NY
Work from home	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.9%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	West Union and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.