How much does it cost to rent in Independence, MO?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Independence, MO is $1,378. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Independence cheaper than other Missouri cities?

Independence falls in the middle range for Missouri, ranking #48 out of 74 cities at $1,378/mo.

When was Independence rent data last updated?

Independence rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MO

Independence

Name: Average Rent Prices in Independence, MO
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 121,740·48th most expensive in Missouri·Independence rents are up 8.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,378/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.8%

Month-over-Month

+2.6%

vs US Median

-$587

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Independence · $1,378

More affordable than 83% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

48/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Independence's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,378/mo

Expected by trend

$1,366/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Independence's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$975

1 BR

$1,073

2 BR

$1,227

3 BR

$1,602

4 BR+

$1,888

Research median

$1,227/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$16,536/yr

At $1,378/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.8% YoY, +2.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

121,740

Median income

$60,339

Median age

Renters

39.1%

Age distribution

22.8%

22.3%

23.1%

13.1%

18.7%

Under 1822.8%

18–3422.3%

35–5423.1%

55–6413.1%

65+18.7%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

71.4%

13.3%

White71.4%

Black10.7%

Hispanic13.3%

Asian1.2%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

36.8%

30.8%

21.9%

No HS diploma10.5%

HS diploma36.8%

Some college30.8%

Bachelor's+21.9%

Housing tenure

60.9%

39.1%

Owner60.9%

Renter39.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Independence, MO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$986 → $1,378

up 39.8%

Income

$53,996 → $60,339

up 11.7%

Population

122,230 → 121,740

down 0.4%

Renter share

40.4% → 39.1%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

19.9% → 21.9%

+2.0 pts

Median age

39.5 → 39

-0.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Independence, MO has climbed by $392 per month, settling near $1,378 after starting the period at $986. 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 28.1 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.

Community

Discussions about Independence

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View Independence rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Independence on your salary?

At $1,378/mo, how Independence rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 19% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 26.8% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 10.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 28.6% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 31.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 25.7% income

affordable

By apartment size

Independence rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Independence. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Independence

About renting in Independence, MO

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Independence is $1,378/mo as of July 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 27% of local median household income ($60,339/yr), Independence ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Independence an affordable city for renters?

Independence is considered affordable for renters. At $1,378/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($60,339/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Independence falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Independence?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (~$26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,378/mo in Independence. The local median household income is $60,339/yr, meaning the typical Independence household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Independence?

Rent in Independence has increased 8.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Independence neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Independence are 64053 ($1,163/mo), 64052 ($1,218/mo), and 64050 ($1,256/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Independence is $1,378/mo.

How does Independence rent compare to other cities in Missouri?

Independence is middle-of-the-pack for Missouri for rent, ranking #48 out of 74 tracked cities at $1,378/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Independence?

Sugar Creek is nearby and more affordable at $1,082/mo, which is $296 less than Independence.

What percentage of Independence residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.1% of Independence households are renters, while 60.9% are owner-occupied. Independence leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Independence rent compare to the national average?

Independence's median rent of $1,378/mo is $587 (30%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Missouri, it ranks #48 out of 74 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

27%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,378/mo, rent takes ~27% of Independence's median household income ($60,339/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Independence 27%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–4.7%

Run the Independence affordability calculator →

Nearby cities