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Compare towns

Kinder vs Independence

140 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.2× in Independence) and growth since 2010 (+10.6 pts in Independence).

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Kinder, LAOne of the healthiest townsLouisiana · 2,317 people
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Independence, LAOne of the safest townsLouisiana · 2,207 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.

KinderOne of the healthiest towns
Health98% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 78%of LA districts Housing$151K typical home30% below the LA typical home All about Kinder →
IndependenceOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 1%of U.S. towns we grade Health96% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Independence →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Property tax bill2.2×
Tax bills are bigger in Independence
Independence $446Kinder $199
Growth since 2010+10.6 pts
Independence has grown faster since 2010
Independence -1.8%Kinder -12.4%
Rent+24%
Rent runs higher in Independence
Independence $964Kinder $777
Street grid+51%
Independence has the more walkable street grid
Independence 41.8Kinder 27.7
Average commute5 min
Kinder has the shorter commute
Independence 27 minKinder 22 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $270 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.

Kinder$810/mo
Typical home $151K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.17% · or rent about $777/mo · Housing →
Independence$1,090/mo
Typical home $198K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.30% · or rent about $964/mo · Housing →

The difference: $270 a month, about $3,300 a year, between Independence and Kinder.

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 Louisiana ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–KinderNot graded D−IndependenceSafer than 1% of U.S. towns
Schools
A−KinderBetter than 78% of districts in the state B−IndependenceBetter than 54% of districts in the state
Health
D−KinderHealthier than 2% of U.S. towns D−IndependenceHealthier than 4% of U.S. towns
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
KinderIndependence
Snow a year0″0″
January low39°F39°F
July high90°F91°F
Growing season (days)267d257d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)75th94th
Outdoors & history
KinderIndependence
National Register places11
Archive photos712
Famous people born here313
Community
KinderIndependence
Library hours a week44 hrs50 hrs
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.

Where they are

140 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

KinderLAIndependenceLA
Kinder ↔ Independence140 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.

KinderIndependence
People
Population 2,317Highest 2,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -12.4%Lowest LA: +2.7% -1.8%Highest LA: +2.7%
Median age 33.6±3Highest 12% below LA 30±7.8Lowest 21% below LA
Kinder and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.8%±3.4Lowest LA: 23.5% 32.3%±6.5Highest LA: 23.5%
Independence and Kinder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 12.9%±3.4Highest LA: 16.7% 10.6%±1.5Lowest LA: 16.7%
Kinder and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.8%Lowest LA: 27% 14.8%Highest LA: 27%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1%±1Lowest LA: 5.8% 3.9%±2.6Highest LA: 5.8%
Independence and Kinder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $42,100±$17kHighest 31% below LA $40,268±$14kLowest 34% below LA
Kinder and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $118,700±$53kLowest 45% below LA $147,000±$45kHighest 32% below LA
Independence and Kinder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $777±$105Lowest 27% below LA $964±$70Highest 9% below LA
Property taxmedian, yearly $199Lowest 83% below LA $446Highest 62% below LA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 69.3%±20.6Highest LA: 54.8% 57.9%±20.2Lowest LA: 54.8%
Kinder and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 33.7%Highest LA: 18.9% 31%Lowest LA: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 57.4%Highest LA: 67.4% 54.5%Lowest LA: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1980Highest 3 yrs older than LA 1976Lowest 7 yrs older than LA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minLowest 14% below LA 27 minHighest 5% above LA
Work from home 0%±1.6Lowest LA: 8.1% 0.3%±0.6Highest LA: 8.1%
Independence and Kinder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 8.5%Highest 3.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 28.8 miHighest 23.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.91Lowest 1.15Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Lake Charles (11%)Hammond (15%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in IndependenceFew work in Kinder
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.9%Highest 0.4%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 27.7Lowest 41.8Highest
Schools
School district Allen ParishTangipahoa Parish
High school in town Kinder High SchoolIndependence High Magnet
Students per teacherat that high school 13.9Highest 11.4Lowest
Louisiana 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.

Kinder neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Kinder’s Town Square.

Independence neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Independence’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Kinder

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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.

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