Independence receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Forest Park
Independence
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs67 · Top 28%
Growth
19 · Bottom 7%
vs74 · Top 11%
Climate
64 · Bottom 32%
vs69 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 12%
vs79 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
94 · Top 22%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
94 · Top 41%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
70 · Top 30%
vs75 · Top 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Forest Park | Independence | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,025 | 29,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,956 | $102,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,344 | $39,714 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,105/sq mi | 1,657/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $190,400 | $263,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,306 | $1,250 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.8% | 83.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.8% | -0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 36.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 8.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 127 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 4.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.4" | 45.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.1 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.29 | 18.07 | 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
Forest Park
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.
Forest Park
72
Your Score
70
Area Score
Independence
80
Your Score
77
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Forest Park, OH · Independence, KY · How this is calculated: methodology