Independence Ohio City Guide

Found in Cuyahoga County in the great state of Ohio, Independence is a city that consists of 9.64 square miles and is made up of roughly 7,200 residents.

Niche.com gives Independence an overall A grade, which is calculated with factors that include public schools, housing, diversity, and crime and safety statistics to name a few. With great historic and attractive present-day accomplishments, this city is ranked as one of the best places to live in Ohio.

Based on statistics from the U.S. Census, Independence ranks as #54 out of 345 for best Ohio suburbs to buy a house. Additionally, Independence’s public schools place the city in the top bracket of Ohio cities where education is concerned.

Employment rates are favorable in Independence. Additionally, the cost of living is low compared to Ohio’s average, and job and business growth trends are steady.

Independence is often praised for its family-oriented atmosphere, recreational department, and involved community.

Independence’s population is made up of people from a range of backgrounds, which breaks down into 96.6% white, 1.9% Asian, 1.1% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American, and 0.1% Native American.

30.9% of households are families, 61.8% are married couples, and the remainder consists of individuals or elderly residents.

The median age of Independence residents is 47 years. 22.9% of residents are minors, 6.1% are between 18-24, 17.9% are 25-44, and 33.5% are 45-64 years of age with 19.5% being 65 and up.

36% of residents over the age of 25 hold a bachelor’s degree or above.

The area that later became Independence, Ohio was formed by a glacier on the western side of the Cuyahoga River. The land was first home to nomadic Native Americans, and permanent settlements began in the 1650’s.

Independence became known as an intersection of Native American trails, which became the Muskingum Trail and the Mahoning Trail. In today’s times, Independence still acts as a crossroads with Interstate 77 and Interstate 480.

In 1814, Independence was recognized as a Township. The first ever resident is thought to be Ichabod Lord Skinner, who owned 384 acres of land by 1834. This area, known as “Skinner’s Hill,” later saw the construction of a brick home built by Ichabod’s youngest son, which still stands today.

100 years after becoming a Township, Independence was upgraded to Village status in 1914. After a population boom, Independence became an official city in November of 1960.

Independence Local Schools focuses on creating purposeful and focused educational environments for students to help students make strategic decisions that impact their futures for the better.

With an emphasis on the local community’s rich history and traditions, the district seeks to improve Independence’s future through educating students with hopes to create a positive impact in their community.

This public school district includes 3 local campuses, which are Independence High School, Independence Middle School, and Independence Primary School. These campuses all come with impressive track records.

The middle school and primary school prepare students for future excellence extremely well, as evidenced by what students accomplish during their high school years. For example, Independence High School has been recognized on the national level as a School of Excellence and is ranked as one of Ohio’s top 100 public schools.

Beyond public campuses, there are also a number of local private schools in Independence and nearby areas.

Overall, the cost of living in Independence is 13.5% higher than Ohio’s average but 3.9% lower than the country’s average. Health, utilities, and transportation expenses are all estimated to be more affordable in this city than elsewhere in Ohio.

That said, Independence’s median home cost of $236K ranks above Ohio’s average of $140K. For reference, both groceries and housing costs in Independence track as being more expensive than the majority of the state.

Also, compared with the Greater Cleveland Area’s cost of living, Independence’s cost of living ranks on the upper end of the spectrum.