Signals
Florence
Independence
Opportunity
57 · Top 48%
vs67 · Top 28%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs69 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 18%
vs79 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
54 · Top 46%
vs75 · Top 20%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
63 · Top 45%
vs75 · Top 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Florence | Independence | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,803 | 29,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,003 | $102,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,622 | $39,714 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,935/sq mi | 1,657/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,700 | $263,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,329 | $1,250 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.5% | 83.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.2% | -0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 36.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 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 | 4 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.93 | 18.07 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 32.2% | 45.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 41.9% | 51.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 51.9% | 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
Florence
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.
Florence
74
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: Florence, KY · Independence, KY · How this is calculated: methodology