Rents are 3% below what Independence's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,395 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Independence usually run 0.7% below trend in January and 0.8% above it in July, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Independence is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Independence changed +2.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Independence rose 41.1% while median household income rose 19.3% ($50,592 to $60,339). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Independence is 47.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($60,339) is $1,508 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,227); a 3-bedroom is $1,602.
The priciest of 6 ZIP codes in Independence, 64056 ($1,634/mo), costs 1.6 times the cheapest, 64053 ($1,020/mo).
Gladstone, 13 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,208/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Independence. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Independence, MO is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 21.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Independence, MO has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Independence, MO has climbed by $373 per month, settling near $1,395 after starting the period at $1,022. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $53,996 in 2021 to $60,339 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 24.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 19.9% to 21.9%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Independence, MO market of 2021.
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At $1,395/mo, how Independence rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Independence rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Independence. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Independence
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Independence is $1,395/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $975/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,227/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,073/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,602/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($60,339/yr), Independence ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Independence rent compare to other cities in Missouri?
At $1,395/mo, rent takes ~28% of Independence's median household income ($60,339/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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