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Independence, Missouri: crime rate and local statistics
FBI figures for 2025 show 5.5 violent crimes per 1,000 people in Independence, 32% higher than the rate across Missouri (4.2). Median household income is $60,339 and the median home value is $172,900. Population: about 121,740 (Census, 2020-2024).
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income by neighborhood · home values · schools
What is the crime rate in Independence?
Independence's violent-crime rate for 2025 was 5.5 per 1,000 residents, based on 670 offenses reported to the FBI. It stands at 32% higher than the Missouri rate (4.2); the U.S. figure is 3.3. Its murder count for the year was 7. Property crime came to 3,606 offenses (29.7 per 1,000; Missouri: 16.4). Car thefts stand out: 5.0 per 1,000, about 2.5 times the national rate. Violent crimes fell 9% between 2021 and 2025 (733 to 670).
| Offense (2025) | Independence count | Per 1,000 | Missouri per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 670 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 3.3 |
| Murder | 7 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Rape | 121 | 1.00 | 0.40 | 0.36 |
| Robbery | 58 | 0.48 | 0.42 | 0.49 |
| Aggravated assault | 484 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Property crime | 3,606 | 29.7 | 16.4 | 15.3 |
| Burglary | 461 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 1.9 |
| Larceny-theft | 2,543 | 21.0 | 11.3 | 11.4 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 602 | 5.0 | 2.9 | 2.0 |
How has crime in Independence changed since 2021?
| Year | Violent crimes | Property crimes | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 733 | 4,763 | 8 |
| 2022 | 663 | 4,119 | 12 |
| 2023 | 282 | 1,796 | 14 |
| 2024 | 705 | 4,291 | 11 |
| 2025 | 670 | 3,606 | 7 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. City figures are the Independence Police Department's own reports.
How does Independence compare with Missouri?
Independence's median household earns $60,339 a year, 15% lower than the state figure ($70,702). Owner-occupied homes have a median value of $172,900, and half of renters pay more than $1,109 a month. About 121,740 people live on 78 square miles of land, roughly 1,561 per square mile. The city lies in Jackson County.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Independence | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 121,740 | 6,191,814 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $60,339 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $172,900 | $230,300 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,109 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 5.6% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 15.8% | 12.6% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 32.4% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 60.9% | 68.1% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 39.0 | 39.0 | 38.9 |
What environmental sites and hazards are in Independence?
1 Superfund site is on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Independence: Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (Northwest Lagoon). A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
The National Inventory of Dams lists 2 high-hazard dams in Independence. None is rated Poor or Unsatisfactory; 1 is rated Satisfactory or Fair. Tallest on the list: Doutt Lake Dam (38 ft) and Tharp Orchard Lake Dam (25 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Jackson County carries a “Relatively High” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: tornadoes (Very High), river flooding (Relatively High) and heat waves (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Is there road construction in Independence?
The state DOT feed had no interstate, U.S. or state highway work zones in Independence city limits on October 11, 2026. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel. The map's layer refreshes every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in or near Independence?
Federal school lists place 34 public and 4 private schools within Independence. 10 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes are in the city. Within about 15 miles: National Park Service sites here: Harry S Truman National Historic Site.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Independence
Gun shops
8 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map inside the Independence city limits, plus 4 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 5 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: 23Rd St Pawn (Independence), Arms Mart INC (Independence), Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World 039 (Independence), Cash America Pawn Of Kansas City #6 (Independence), Cash America Pawn Of Kansas City #9 (Independence), Shop 'N Pawn Of Independence INC (Independence), Shop N Pawn INC (Independence) and Walmart #1014 (Independence).
Liquor stores
10 liquor stores are on the map inside the Independence city limits: Bubbles Liquors (Independence), Crown Liquors (Independence), Discount Smokes & Liquor (Independence), Independence Liquor (Independence), Kc Liquor (Independence), Liquor Land (Independence), Liquor Studio & Tobacco (Independence), Liquor World & Food Mart (Independence) and 2 more.
Planned Parenthood
One Planned Parenthood health center is on the map inside the Independence city limits: Planned Parenthood Great Plains-Independence (Independence).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Independence?
In 2025, Independence had 5.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (670 reported), 32% higher than the Missouri rate (4.2). The property-crime rate was 29.7 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Independence?
$60,339 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024), compared with $70,702 for Missouri.
How much do homes cost in Independence?
The median value of owner-occupied homes is $172,900 (Census ACS 2020-2024), against $230,300 statewide.
What natural hazards affect Independence?
Jackson County carries a “Relatively High” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: tornadoes (Very High), river flooding (Relatively High) and heat waves (Relatively High).
Nearby cities
Blue Springs, MO (7 mi) · Kansas City, MO (11 mi) · Lee's Summit, MO (11 mi) · Kansas City, KS (21 mi) · Overland Park, KS (23 mi) · Shawnee, KS (25 mi)
More: Missouri statewide numbers · county page: Jackson County · Sex-offender registry search (NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, agency counts 2021-2025 (Return A); state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables, for the Census place Independence city.
- Land area: Census 2024 Gazetteer. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores (county level).
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026).
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026).
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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