A town of 1,132. Public schools that outperform most of Virginia.
The 3 things Independence does most differently from other towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Be the first to start the conversation.
Nothing on the calendar.
Ordered by what stands out in Independence. Another town gets a different order.
The public schools Independence’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 94% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Elementary | PK–5 | 287 | B+ |
| Independence Middle | 6–8 | 280 | B |
| Grayson County High | 9–12 | 461 | A |
| Grayson County High Career & Technical Education | — | Not graded |
Most working residents leave Independence for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Galax (11%), Wytheville (5%) and Sparta (3%). Half commute less than 23 miles.
Independence beats the Virginia average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 20.
| What stands out | Independence | VA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.4% | 76.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.4% | 6.2% |
The typical Independence home is worth about $229,000, up 5.6% in a year, 45% below the Virginia typical home.
Independence has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 17 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 36% of U.S. communities.
18 crimes were reported in Independence in 2025: 18 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Independence is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
1.4 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
Where Independence’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
9 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
3 notable people were born in Independence.
Town in Virginia, United States
Independence is a town located in, and the county seat of, Grayson County, Virginia, United States. At the 2020 U.S. census, it had a population of 1,001. It is situated on Virginia's Crooked Road, a heritage trail celebrating the musical heritage of Southwest Virginia. The town and county are noted for the original red brick 1908 Courthouse at the corner of Main Street (Virginia Route 58) and Independence Avenue (US 21), site of the annual July 4th Celebration and autumn Mountain Foliage Festival. In 2021, the town created its first public park in its 115-year history, Town Park, on vacant property opposite the original Courthouse. Town park is home to the Independence Farmers Market, whic…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
