Signals
Burlington
Independence
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs67 · Top 28%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs69 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 16%
vs79 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
72 · Top 23%
vs75 · Top 20%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
79 · Top 9%
vs75 · Top 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Burlington | Independence | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,008 | 29,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $109,308 | $102,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,698 | $39,714 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,043/sq mi | 1,657/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $254,300 | $263,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,489 | $1,250 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.4% | 83.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.2% | -0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8% | 36.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 8.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.3" | 45.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.99 | 18.07 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 36.2% | 45.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.9% | 51.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 43.7% | 42.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Burlington
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Independence
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Burlington
81
Your Score
—
Area Score
Independence
80
Your Score
77
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Burlington, KY · Independence, KY · How this is calculated: methodology