Cost of living in Independence research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Independence is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Ohio, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Independence is 105, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Independence is 1.1x higher than the national average.
Independence ranks as the #242 cheapest in Ohio out of 289.
Independence ranks as the #3,177 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Independence is $355,005.
The median income in Independence is $114,049.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Independence has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Ohio, Independence has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Ohio's index of 93.
The standard of living in Independence ranks as #242 most affordable out of the 289 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Independence ranks as the #47 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.
For more reading on life in Independence, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Independence. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Independence is 93.
The Groceries index in Independence is 102.
The Health index in Independence is 93.
The Housing index in Independence is 130.
The Transportation index in Independence is 98.
The Utilities index in Independence is 104.
| Living Expense | Independence | Ohio | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 105 | 93 | 100 | |
| Services | 93 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 102 | 103 | 100 | |
| Health | 93 | 97 | 100 | |
| Housing | 130 | 74 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 98 | 102 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 104 | 100 | 100 | |
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Ohio, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Independence is $355,005.
The Median Rent in Independence is $1,547.
The Median Income in Independence is $114,049.
The Home Value To Income in Independence is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Independence is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Independence | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $355,005 | $240,287 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,547 | $988 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $114,049 | $69,680 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.4x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
| Item | Independence | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.6 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.27 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.31 | $45.56 |
| Item | Independence | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.46 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.57 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.38 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $9.98 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.51 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.68 | $3.7 |
| Item | Independence | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $103.58 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.73 | $113.29 |
| Item | Independence | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.76 | $59.92 |
| Item | Independence | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $205.88 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.78 | $192.25 |
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Independence. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Parma, OH has a cost of living index of 89, 0.8x Independence.
Strongsville, OH has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Independence.
Westlake, OH has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Independence.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Independence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parma, OH | 80,131 | 89 | 0.8x |
| Strongsville, OH | 46,022 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Westlake, OH | 34,036 | 110 | 1.0x |
| North Olmsted, OH | 32,031 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Garfield Heights, OH | 29,369 | 86 | 0.8x |
| Shaker Heights, OH | 29,004 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Solon, OH | 23,970 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Maple Heights, OH | 23,350 | 83 | 0.8x |
| Hudson, OH | 23,007 | 125 | 1.2x |
| Broadview Heights, OH | 19,768 | 104 | 1.0x |