In Independence, a typical home is worth $309,900 and typical rent is $1,383 a month. Compared with all of Cuyahoga County, typical household income is 80% higher, the typical home value is 59% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 31 points higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $291,938 to $367,974.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Independence is in Cuyahoga County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cuyahoga County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
90% of households in Independence own their home, against 59% in Cuyahoga County.
2
The typical household income in Independence is $115,733,80% more than in Cuyahoga County as a whole ($64,468).
3
Nearby, in Maple Heights, the typical home value is $97,900: 68% less than in Independence ($309,900).
4
The typical home in Independence is worth $309,900,59% more than in Cuyahoga County as a whole ($195,400).
5
The typical rent in Independence is $1,383 a month, 30% more than in Cuyahoga County as a whole ($1,060).
6
Nearby, in Broadview Heights, the typical rent is $1,083: 22% less than in Independence ($1,383).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Independence
What homes there are in Independence, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
United States
Kind of home: Independence and its comparisons
Measure
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
United States
Detached house
95%
59%
69%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
6%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
10%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
24%
15%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 95% of homes here, against 59% in Cuyahoga County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
United States
Year built: Independence and its comparisons
Measure
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
United States
Before 1960
50%
56%
38%
26%
1960–1979
15%
25%
26%
24%
1980–1999
23%
12%
20%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
4%
10%
14%
2010 or later
7%
4%
7%
11%
In Independence, 86% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in Cuyahoga County (57%).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K11%
$200K–$300K35%
$300K–$500K30%
$500K–$750K16%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Independence and its comparisons
Measure
Independence
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
11%
$200K–$300K
35%
$300K–$500K
30%
$500K–$750K
16%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Independence and its comparisons
Measure
Independence
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,074 a month
Cuyahoga County: $1,570 a month
Without a mortgage
$729 a month
Cuyahoga County: $671 a month
Owners with a mortgage
57%
Cuyahoga County: 59%
In Independence, 57% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,074 a month, against $1,570 in Cuyahoga County. Without one it drops to $729.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Independence+30%
Cuyahoga County+47%
Ohio+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
IndependenceNo clear change
Cuyahoga County+31%
Ohio+28%
United States+33%
Typical household income
IndependenceNo clear change
Cuyahoga County+28%
Ohio+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Independence and its comparisons
Measure
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
United States
Typical home value
+30%
+47%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+31%
+28%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+28%
+26%
+29%
The typical home value in Independence rose 30% since 2015–2019, less than in Cuyahoga County (47%).
Rent in Independence moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Independence and its comparisons
Measure
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.3%
4.4%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.2%
1.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.40
2.20
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
72%
70%
75%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
3%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
2%
3%
Work from home
19%
16%
13%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
On average, a household in Independence has 2.40 people, more than in Cuyahoga County (2.20).
Many people here do not commute at all: 19% work from home; in Cuyahoga County, 16%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Independence?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Independence, worth $309,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Independence, which is $115,733 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $117,128 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cuyahoga County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Independence. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $10,847 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,733
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$304,286
Total interest
$437,797
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $5,233 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,700 a month
Tight
$2,700 to $3,472 a month
Your payment · 28%
Hard
more than $3,472 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Independence ($115,733 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,061
Property tax
$405
Home insurance
$129
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$137
You need at least $10,847 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,733; principal and interest $2,061.
The city and its county
Independence and Cuyahoga County
Independence is in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Independence
Map of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, with Independence marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Other cities with a page
Independence's own numbers
Typical home value
$309,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,383
Typical yearly household income
$115,733
Households that own their home
90%
Effective property tax rate
1.57%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Cuyahoga County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,274
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.2%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cuyahoga County.
A typical home in Independence is worth $309,900: 59% above the county and 44% above Ohio. With the typical household income in Independence ($115,733 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Independence2.7 years
Cuyahoga3.0 years
Ohio3.0 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Cuyahoga County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cuyahoga County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cuyahoga County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Cuyahoga County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.7% +3.7% 2016
2017: +4.9% +4.9% 2017
2018: +5.9% +5.9% 2018
2019: +4.5% +4.5% 2019
2020: +4.7% +4.7% 2020
2021: +11.6% +11.6% 2021
2022: +13.0% +13.0% 2022
2023: +8.3% +8.3% 2023
2024: +6.3% +6.3% 2024
2025: +5.7% +5.7% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and the United States
Period
County
Ohio
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.7%
+4.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+54%
+53%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+93%
+93%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Independence next to Cuyahoga County, Ohio and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Independence$309,900
Cuyahoga$195,400
Ohio$214,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Independence$1,383
Cuyahoga$1,060
Ohio$1,034
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Independence$115,733
Cuyahoga$64,468
Ohio$71,389
United States$80,734
See the full table
Independence next to Cuyahoga County and Ohio
Measure
Independence
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
U.S.
Typical home value
$309,900 ▲59% above the county
$195,400
$214,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,383 ▲30% above the county
$1,060
$1,034
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$115,733 ▲80% above the county
$64,468
$71,389
$80,734
Households that own their home
90% ▲31 points above the county
59%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,870 ▲25% above the county
$3,910
$2,822
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.57% ▼0.43 points below the county
2%
1.31%
0.94%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cuyahoga County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Independence
For a typical $309,900 home in Independence, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Independence's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,733a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$10,847
Cash to close
$20,144
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $137
Conventional, 5% down$2,676a month
Down payment
$15,495
Cash to close
$24,792
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $147
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,214a month
Down payment
$61,980
Cash to close
$71,277
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,501a month
Down payment
$46,485
Cash to close
$55,782
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Independence
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,733
$10,847
$304,287
7.18%
FHA MIP · $137
$20,144
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,676
$15,495
$294,405
7.18%
PMI · $147
$24,792
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,214
$61,980
$247,920
7.18%
None
$71,277
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,501
$46,485
$263,415
8.18%
None
$55,782
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Independence is $1,383 a month: 30% above the county.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cuyahoga County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,274 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.50 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Cuyahoga County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$924
$17.77
$36,960
1 bedroom
$1,050
$20.19
$42,000
2 bedrooms
$1,274
$24.50
$50,960
3 bedrooms
$1,628
$31.31
$65,120
4 bedrooms
$1,756
$33.77
$70,240
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Independence
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Independence is in ZIP code 44131.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,740: $466 more than the fair market rent for Cuyahoga County ($1,274).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Independence, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
44131
$1,260
$1,430
$1,740
$2,220
$2,400
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
44131 $1,740$2,220
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Independence when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 12 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cuyahoga County; 5 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Independence or Cuyahoga County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Independence the same as in the rest of the state.
Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it.Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic).Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Independence, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
No legal help resource on our list is for Independence or Cuyahoga County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Independence and all of Cuyahoga County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Independence?
The typical home value in Independence is $309,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cuyahoga County it is $195,400.
How much does it cost to rent in Independence?
Typical rent in Independence is $1,383 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cuyahoga County is $1,274.
What is the FHA loan limit in Independence?
Independence uses the FHA limit for all of Cuyahoga County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Independence?
The typical homeowner in Independence pays $4,870 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.57% of the home’s value; in Cuyahoga County, the rate is 2%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Independence?
There are 12 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cuyahoga County. 5 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
