The typical owner-occupied home in Independence is worth about $165,300, 21% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 50% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,722 a year in property taxes, about 1.65% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $73,806 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 56% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Independence at a glance
| Independence | Iowa | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,300 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,722 | $2,897 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.65% | 1.39% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $73,806 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 72% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 56% | 59% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,363 | $1,533 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.6% | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $820 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.0% | 27.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1971 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.3% | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 6,164 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
How much equity Independence owners could borrow
Home equity is what your home is worth minus what you owe. Most lenders let you borrow until your loans add up to 80% to 85% of the home's value. For the median Independence home of $165,300, 80% is $132,240.
44% of Independence owners have no mortgage at all, so they could borrow up to the full 80% limit.
Owners with a mortgage here already spend a median $1,363 a month on housing, so a new payment should fit next to that. At the median income of $73,806, lenders typically cap all debt payments at about 43% of gross income, or $2,645 a month.
If you instead refinance and take cash out, the whole loan moves to the new rate (this week's 30-year average is 7.11%). A home equity loan or line of credit keeps your current first mortgage, which is usually better when your existing rate is lower than today's.
| Owe nothing | $132,240 to $140,505 |
|---|---|
| Owe $41,325 | $90,915 to $99,180 |
| Owe $82,650 | $49,590 to $57,855 |
| Owe $107,445 | $24,795 to $33,060 |
Before the lender's own limits, fees and your credit and income checks.
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home equity loans in Independence
What is the median home value in Independence?
About $165,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Independence?
Homeowners pay a median $2,722 a year, which is about 1.65% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
How much can I borrow against my home in Independence?
Usually up to 80% to 85% of your home's value, minus what you owe. On the median home of $165,300, an 80% limit is $132,240 before subtracting your mortgage.
More about Independence
- Mortgage Refinance in Independence
- Home Buying in Independence
- Debt Relief in Independence
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data