Independence, KY — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Kentucky·Independence

Kenton County · Cincinnati · population 30,196

Independence, KY
Image: Wikipedia · Independence, Kentucky
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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72
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Independence stands

At or near all-time high.

Median home $327,387
1-year +2.8%
5-yr CAGR +5.6%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +1.3%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$327k$163k$222k$281k$340k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
85/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$2,088/mo$0$1,138$2,2762026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent103105801002026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 13.1
Buy

At a 13.1 price-to-rent ratio, buying generally beats renting in Independence on a long-enough horizon. The headline math is that one year of mortgage payments approximates 13.1 years of rent — well below the 15+ threshold where ownership starts to dominate.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
64 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
68 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
69 · w16%
Rent YoY
71 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
71 · w10%
Long thesis

Independence has held up across the cycle: home values at $327,387 with +5.6% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Independence's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Independence

Independence is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, with an estimated population of 30,196. It anchors the Cincinnati metro area. The population grew 1.3% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Independence is $327,387 as of 2026-04, up 2.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Independence average $2,088 per month, up 4.0% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 72 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Healthy 5-year run: +5.6% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +2.8% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Net positive migration: population up 1.3% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Independence (Wikipedia)

Independence is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It is one of its county's two seats of government. The population was 28,676 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the third largest city in Northern Kentucky after Covington and Florence, and is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Independence is a home-rule class city under Kentucky law.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Kenton County right now.

NWS active alerts (KY)Kentucky Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Kenton County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Independence

Mount Washington, KY70 · RisingHillview, KY71 · RisingTaylor Mill, KY70 · RisingOwensboro, KY69 · Rising

Run the numbers for Independence

ToolCan I afford Independence?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Independence rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Independence to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolIndependence cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
42° / 26°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
86° / 66°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
188
~52% of year
Annual precip
50″ rain
12″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Moderate
Flood
High

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Cincinnati area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Independence listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
70%
Humid climate
Median household income
$60,200
Kentucky state median
Top industries (state-level)
Manufacturing (auto)HealthcareLogistics (UPS)

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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