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Independence, IA

City in Buchanan County, Iowa.

Population

6,164

Land area

6sq mi

People per sq mi

1,023

ZIP codes

0

Independence and its ZIP codes

Full map

Independence at a glance

  • Independence is about 18 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 64th among 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
  • The median household income is $73,806, close to the Iowa median.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $165,300 (21% below Iowa) and median rent is $820 a month.

Local data for Independence, IA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Independence, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$73,806

Poverty rate

7.6%

Median home value

$165,300

Median rent

$820/mo

Homeownership

72.2%

Bachelor's or higher

24.7%

Median age

40.9

Average commute

20.3 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,248), Irish Americans (1,056), Norwegian Americans (329).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Buchanan County. PPP loans are for Independence.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$52,070

6,767 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$62,929

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$147M

FY 2026, $7,156 per person

Buchanan County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Independence, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone81.3%
  • Carpooled9.0%
  • Public transit0.7%
  • Walked2.5%
  • Bicycle0.8%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home5.8%

Average one-way commute: 20.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Independence, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: drought

Storm events since 1996

749

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

65

0.8% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

83° / 8°F

37.4 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Independence, IA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

37.3%

U.S. 33.3% +4.0 pts

Diabetes

11.1%

U.S. 12.1% -1.0 pts

Smoking

14.6%

U.S. 12.8% +1.8 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

6.2%

U.S. 11.1% -4.9 pts

Cities near Independence

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
RowleyCity7.3 mi0.4
WinthropCity8.3 mi0.8
JesupCity8.6 mi1.8
QuasquetonCity8.7 mi1.1
HazletonCity10 mi0.8
BrandonCity12 mi0.3
StanleyCity13 mi0.2
AuroraCity14 mi0.5
WalkerCity14 mi0.7
OelweinCity14 mi4.8
FairbankCity14 mi0.7
DunkertonCity15 mi1.2
MasonvilleCity16 mi0.3
LamontCity16 mi0.6
UrbanaCity16 mi1.8
GilbertvilleCity17 mi0.4

Frequently asked questions

What county is Independence, IA in?
Independence is in Buchanan County, Iowa.
What is the population of Independence, IA?
About 6,164 people live in Independence, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Independence?
Nearby places include Rowley (7.3 mi), Winthrop (8.3 mi), Jesup (8.6 mi), Quasqueton (8.7 mi), Hazleton (10 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023