Compare towns

Joplin vs Independence

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

Joplin, MOA history townMissouri · 52,593 people

Independence, MOA history townMissouri · 121,740 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.

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 →

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 →

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

DJoplinSafer than 5% of U.S. towns DIndependenceSafer than 14% of U.S. towns

Schools

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

Health

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

11Joplin

10Independence

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

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

Left end = #1 in Missouri. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Joplin’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%

Joplin$1,210/mo

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

Independence$1,310/mo

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

JoplinIndependence

Snow a year8″13″

January low25°F 19°F

July high90°F 87°F

Growing season (days)206d 198d

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

Outdoors & history

JoplinIndependence

Trails14 mi 46 mi

Conserved land2.7%4.8%

Settled1873 1827

National Register places30 26

Archive photos12 6

Famous people born here53 64

Community

JoplinIndependence

Library hours a week61 hrs 69 hrs

Colleges in town2 —

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 1

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.

JoplinMO IndependenceMO

Joplin ↔ Independence139 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

JoplinIndependence

People

Population 52,593Lowest 121,740Highest

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

Median age 38.5±1.1Lowest about the MO average 39±1.1Highest 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 20.9%±1.5Lowest MO: 22.3% 22.8%±1.1Highest 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+ 19.4%±1.4Highest MO: 17.9% 18.7%±0.9Lowest 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+ 26.7%Highest MO: 32.4% 21.9%Lowest MO: 32.4%

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

Cost of living

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $168,300±$7kLowest 27% below MO $172,900±$3kHighest 25% 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 $962±$28Lowest 7% below MO $1,109±$30Highest 7% above MO

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

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 47.8%±5.1Lowest MO: 45.6% 53.1%±4.7Highest 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 16.9%Highest MO: 12.6% 15.8%Lowest MO: 12.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 53.4%Lowest MO: 68.1% 60.9%Highest MO: 68.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1985Highest 7 yrs newer than MO 1967Lowest 11 yrs older than MO

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 23% below MO 24 minHighest about the MO average

Work from home 10%±2.1Lowest MO: 13% 12.3%±1.5Highest 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 50.3%Highest 16.1%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 4.3 miLowest 10.8 miHighest

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

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

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in IndependenceFew work in Joplin

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.7%Lowest 4.8%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 13.7 miLowest 45.6 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 0.6 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 15Lowest 51Highest

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

Schools

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

School district DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE · JOPLIN SCHOOLSBLUE SPRINGS R-IV · FORT OSAGE R-I

High school in town Joplin HighTruman High

Students per teacherat that high school 18.4Lowest 18.6Highest

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.

Joplin neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Joplin’s Town Square.

Independence neighborsTown Square →

T Weaver · 4d

Choosing a School in Independence

1 neighbor in Independence can answer.

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Set another town beside Joplin and Independence

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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.

Joplin vs Independence

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 Joplin and Independence

Bordering Joplin

Towns like Joplin

Post to Joplin

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