Retirement Communities in Independence, Missouri

CaringScore for Independence, MO

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for retirement communities in Independence was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose retirement communities in Independence.

A CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 4.9, Independence is on par with the national average for those seeking retirement communities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Independence. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Independence, MO

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for retirement communities in Independence, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for retirement communities. The HealthScore for Independence is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 4.8, Independence is on par with the national average for those seeking retirement communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults seeking retirement communities. At 209.7 physicians per capita, Independence closely matches the national average. Independence scores about average in geriatricians per capita, with 1.6, and closely matches the national average in specialists per capita, with 20.8. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Independence is 76.3 years -- 2.1 percent lower than most of the country. Air quality in Independence -- one factor in gauging the healthfulness of a region -- is 44.6 percent below average, and water quality -- another key measure of Independence's environmental health -- trails the national average by 63.6 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Independence, MO	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	209.7	220.5
Geriatricians	1.6	1.3
Cardiologists	10.7	7.7
Oncologists	3.7	3.5
Orthopedists	4.7	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Independence, MO

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for retirement communities in Independence, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for retirement communities. The CostScore for Independence is based on data such as the average monthly cost of retirement communities in the region, cost of living indices such as housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 6.2, the costs associated with retirement communities in Independence are generally less expensive than the national average.

Because of the broad range of housing, service, and healthcare options available at retirement communities, no average monthly cost data is available for Independence. The entry fee or purchase price for an independent living community can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and typically requires an additional monthly service fee of $1,000 to $3,000 on average. The cost of living indices below provide the best proxy for comparing costs of retirement communities in Independence to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Independence indexes at 9.0 percent lower than the national average. Average healthcare costs are 4.0 percent cheaper than the national average, and the cost of housing is 37.0 percent less expensive than average.

Cost of Living	Independence, MO
Aggregate Index	91
Healthcare Index	96
Housing Index	63
Food Index	96
Utilities Index	108
Transportation Index	97

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Independence, MO

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for retirement communities in Independence. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for retirement communities. The LivabilityScore for Independence is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 3.5, Independence rates below average for retirement communities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for retirement communities. The sun shines an average of 217 days each year in Independence, 5.9 percent more sunny days than the rest of the U.S. sees. With an average temperature of 20°F in January, winters in Independence tend to be similar to other parts of the country, and summers often mirror nationwide seasonal trends, averaging 87°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Independence is 75.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 125.0 percent higher than average. At $44,672 per year, the population of Independence earns a lower than average median household income. Independence has an unemployment rate of 9.70 percent, roughly equal to the national average. And about 15.46 percent of the population in Independence is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which exceeds the national average by 17.5 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Independence	Nat'l Avg
Parks	7.2	136.1
Libraries	3.9	18.8
Places of Worship	87.2	220.5
Public Transit	130.1	110.4
Grocery Stores	66.7	97.7
Pharmacies	14.4	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65