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Independence, KS
City in Montgomery County, Kansas.
Population
8,422
Land area
7.5sq mi
People per sq mi
1,124
ZIP codes
0
Independence and its ZIP codes
Independence at a glance
- Independence is about 31 times as dense as Kansas as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 45th among 721 cities and towns in Kansas.
- The median household income is $51,069, 31% below the Kansas median of $74,275.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $88,800 (59% below Kansas) and median rent is $789 a month.
Local data for Independence, KS
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Independence, KS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$51,069
Poverty rate
18.4%
Median home value
$88,800
Median rent
$789/mo
Homeownership
69.6%
Bachelor's or higher
28.7%
Median age
38.3
Average commute
16.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,590), Irish Americans (1,319), Mexican Americans (436).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Montgomery County. PPP loans are for Independence.
Unemployment rate
5.3%
Aug 2026, +0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,430
14,217 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$48,328
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$228M
FY 2026, $7,229 per person
How people get to work
Independence, KS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.6%
- Carpooled12.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.6%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.7%
- Worked from home3.9%
Average one-way commute: 16.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Independence, KS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: tornado
Storm events since 1996
794
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
85
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 23°F
45.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Independence, KS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.1%
U.S. 33.3% +4.8 pts
Diabetes
12.8%
U.S. 12.1% +0.7 pts
Smoking
16.5%
U.S. 12.8% +3.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.0%
U.S. 11.1% -1.1 pts
Cities near Independence
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WaysideCensus-designated place | 5.3 mi | 0.2 |
| TyroCity | 8.3 mi | 0.5 |
| DearingCity | 8.3 mi | 1.5 |
| HavanaCity | 9.8 mi | 0.2 |
| LibertyCity | 10 mi | 0.3 |
| Elk CityCity | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| CoffeyvilleCity | 12 mi | 9.5 |
| SycamoreCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 1.9 |
| CaneyCity | 13 mi | 1.4 |
| South Coffeyville, OKTown | 14 mi | 0.7 |
| NiotazeCity | 14 mi | 0.4 |
| CherryvaleCity | 15 mi | 2 |
| Wann, OKTown | 16 mi | 0.2 |
| LafontaineCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 2 |
| PeruCity | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| Copan, OKTown | 19 mi | 1.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Independence, KS in?
- Independence is in Montgomery County, Kansas.
- What is the population of Independence, KS?
- About 8,422 people live in Independence, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Independence?
- Nearby places include Wayside (5.3 mi), Tyro (8.3 mi), Dearing (8.3 mi), Havana (9.8 mi), Liberty (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023