Independence, MO: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Independence is a city mostly in, and one of two county seats of, Jackson County, Missouri, United States. It is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2020, it had a total population of 123,011, making it the fifth-most populous city in Missouri. A small part of the city extends into Clay County. Independence is known as the "Queen City of the Trails" because it was a point of departure for the California, Oregon, and Santa Fe Trails. It is the hometown of U.S. President Harry S. Truman, and houses the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and the gravesites of Truman and First Lady Bess T…

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How Independence ranks

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#42Most conserved land in MO #80Most remote workers in MO #87Fastest growing in MO All MO rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code64050, 64051, 64052

Area code816

Living in Independence

Housing in Independence

$213K▲ 3.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Independence home is worth about $213,000, up 3.7% in a year, 21% below the Missouri typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market18

Sold in May160

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Independence

D

Safety Grade D

Independence reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 86% report less. Compared with places its own size, it does better than 41%.

Violent crime per 1,000

Independence 5.5

Missouri 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Independence 29.7

Missouri 16.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Schools in Independence

All Independence schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Independence’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 62% of Missouri’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Independence’s schools compare in MO →

DistrictINDEPENDENCE 30Schools38

Sycamore Hills Elem. BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 574 students Sunny Pointe Elem. AElementary · Grades K–5 · 506 students William Yates Elem. AElementary · Grades K–5 · 463 students William Southern Elem. CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 458 students Korte Elem. C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 444 students Glendale Elem. BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 417 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MO. Ratings are from neighbors.