Save town Compare Needs More Love
Town guide

Independence

A city of 10,199 people in Oregon
Be the first to joinEarn karma for joining →
1

Now in Independence

What’s happening this week

All posts →
From your neighbors

What’s happening

A preview of what neighbors share. Be the first to post in Independence.

Weather

Forecast →
Coming up

Upcoming events

Nothing on the calendar yet

Put the next local happening — a market, a meeting, a concert — on the map.

Add an event →
Around town

Local news

All news →

Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

2

Around town

The places and views that make it Independence

Explore places →

Outdoors in Independence

Parks & trails →
Conserved land1%20 of 1,980 acres
Trails0.1 mi0 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves22 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

Know a trail or park that’s missing? Anyone can add it to OpenStreetMap, and it shows up here on the next refresh.

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Untitled photo, possibly related to: Migratory field workers in hop field. Near Independence, Oregon1939
From Independence’s story

Untitled photo, possibly related to: Migratory field workers in hop field. Near Independence, Oregon, 1939

Photo · Library of Congress

3

Know Independence

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

Open the full guide →

About Independence

City in Oregon, United States
1874Established
9,828Population
2.9 sq miArea
167 ftElevation

Independence is a city in Polk County, Oregon, United States, on the west bank of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 51, and east of nearby Monmouth. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thirty square blocks of the oldest part of Independence form the National Register of Historic Places-listed Independence Historic District. The population was 9,828 at the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code97351
Living in Independence

Housing in Independence

$426K▲ 2.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Independence home is worth about $426,000, up 2.1% in a year, 14% below the Oregon typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s
Days on market92
Sale-to-list97.8%
Sold in May9
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Independence

B−

Safety Grade B-

Independence reports less crime per resident than 50% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000
Independence 1.7
Oregon 3.2
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
Independence 12.5
Oregon 21.8
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Independence

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Independence for work: only 12% work in town. The top destinations are Salem (25%), Portland (7%) and Monmouth (6%). Half commute less than 12 miles.

Salem
25%
Portland
7%
Monmouth
6%
Corvallis
4%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Independence →

Health in Independence

B−

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 54% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Oregon

3better than OR·5worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Salem Health West ValleyDallas · 7 mi · ER · rural critical access
Total Health Community ClinicMonmouth · 1.4 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Independence · CMS · HRSAHealth in Independence →

Natural hazards in Independence

76
High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding🌡️ Heat waves
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Independence →

Climate in Independence

Full climate →

Independence has mild winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 36°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

49° / 35°Winter
62° / 41°Spring
80° / 52°Summer
65° / 44°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Independence →

Schools in Independence

All Independence schools →
B

School Grade B

The public schools Independence’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 63% of Oregon’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

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 OR. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from IndependenceWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Independence.Meet them →

Where Independence is

Explore map →
Locator map of Independence
Wikimedia Commons · Map: Arkyan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Location map

Around town

Bordering towns

Explore map →
Monmouth Independence Monmouth
Where Independence residents work nearby:Monmouth 6%Work & commute →
Compare side by side:Independence vs Monmouth

How things work in Independence

All explainers →
The porch light’s on

Where to, neighbor?

You’re in Independence, ORView boundary

Nearby

All towns & citiesExplore the map
Loading boundary…

Independence is your selected town. The feed includes posts assigned to this town, not a distance radius or ZIP code.

Neighborhoods narrow the feed further, while townwide announcements, events, and issues remain visible.

Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01