Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,000, settled in 1850.
Independence’s best subject grade is an A+ for schools; its weakest is a D− for incomes. 32% of residents are 65 or older in Independence, above both the Virginia town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). On incomes, just 4 of Virginia’s 369 towns do worse. Residents are less healthy than 92% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. On the outdoors, just 37 of Virginia’s 372 towns do worse. Grayson County Courthouse and Brookside Farm and Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places. Independence's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 83% of U.S. towns. Independence has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Independence beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Elementary | PK–5 | 287 |
| Independence Middle | 6–8 | 280 |
| Grayson County High | 9–12 | 461 |
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far Independence is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 429 in 1940, 1,011 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1933 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Independence, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Independence.
Its public schools are run by the Grayson County Public Schools. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Grayson County High, with 461 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 287 | B+ |
| Grayson County HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 461 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduation
Independence’s median household income is $39,000, below both Virginia’s towns ($102,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). 24% of Independence residents live below the poverty line. Since 2013, Independence has added 543 jobs, to 1,707 in 2023.
| Independence | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 24% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $102,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 4.9% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
19% of adults report frequent physical distress in Independence. Independence beats the Virginia average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 20. 28% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Independence.
| Independence | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 12% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 23% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 33% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 17% | 19% |
| What stands out | Independence | VA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.4% | 76.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.4% | 6.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Independence home is worth about $226,000, up 4.9% in a year, 45% below the Virginia typical home. The median rent in Independence is $668 a month.
| Independence | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $668 a month | $1,762 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 66% | 68% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Independence has chilly winters and pleasant summers. Independence’s July high is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 64% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
18 crimes were reported in Independence in 2025: 18 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Independence is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
1.4 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
| Independence | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.2% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Independence; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Independence residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
Where Independence’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Virginia, United States
Independence is a town located in, and the county seat of, Grayson County, Virginia, United States. At the 2020 U.S. census, it had a population of 1,001. It is situated on Virginia's Crooked Road, a heritage trail celebrating the musical heritage of Southwest Virginia. The town and county are noted for the original red brick 1908 Courthouse at the corner of Main Street (Virginia Route 58) and Independence Avenue (US 21), site of the annual July 4th Celebration and autumn Mountain Foliage Festival. In 2021, the town created its first public park in its 115-year history, Town Park, on vacant property opposite the original Courthouse. Town park is home to the Independence Farmers Market, whic…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. That is 4.7 years of the area's median household income ($47,730 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.