Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Where it does best is incomes: the median household earns $205K. The catch is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $674K, 5.3 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income. All told, that adds up to an A− overall and a rank of 98th of 249 in Virginia. Set against the rest, it does better than 81% of U.S. towns. Powell's Creek Greenway, at 171 acres with 1.2 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Independent Hill’s average trip to work is 42 minutes, against 27 minutes in Virginia’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Only 7 of the 253 Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Independent Hill. Residents are healthier than 91% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates.
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · health, CDC PLACES · OpenStreetMap.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far Independent Hill is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Where Independent Hill beats most towns.
| Widest gap | Independent Hill | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.3% | 11.1% |
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2016 and 7 maps from 1927 on.
7,419 counted in 2010 and 10,165 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
Ordered by what stands out in Independent Hill.
Independent Hill owes part of its health edge to its incomes and has household incomes well above the Virginia norm, but it has commutes longer than most of Virginia.
Against the 969 U.S. towns with household incomes like Independent Hill’s, it is less healthy than 82%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Among adults in Independent Hill, 21% have been diagnosed with depression. Two figures for adults in the town: 14% report frequent mental distress, 13% say their health is fair or poor.
| Independent Hill | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 12% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 23% | 25% |
| What stands out | Independent Hill | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.3% | 11.1% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.1% | 6.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Prince William County Public Schools. Of its 9 schools, three are listed below, each with the reason. The largest public high school is Charles J. Colgan Sr. High, with 2,956 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louise A. Benton MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,339 | B |
| Charles J. Colgan Sr. HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,956 | A− |
| Ashland ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 738 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduation
In 4 parks and preserves, walkers have 6.7 miles of trail. The concentration of trails for Independent Hill comes to 0.8 miles per square mile.
| Independent Hill | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.8 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. George Hellwig Memorial Park | 1.3 mi | 135 |
| 2. Powell's Creek Greenway | 1.2 mi | 171 |
| 3. Howison Homestead Park | 0.1 mi | 28 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
The average commute for its 4,207 working residents takes 41.6 minutes, against 27.3 across Virginia. Jobs based here grew from 1,530 in 2013 to 2,169.
For most workers, Independent Hill is a place to come home to: only 3% work in town. Since 2013, Independent Hill has added 639 jobs, to 2,169 in 2023. The share of workers in Independent Hill who work from home: 23%. Among 253 Virginia towns, just 7 have a higher average trip to work than Independent Hill.
| Independent Hill | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 42 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $205,000 | $101,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 23% | 17% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.5% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts nearly two thirds of Independent Hill’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 9% to heat waves. Since 2021, one flood insurance claim has been paid locally.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Expect July afternoons of 87° and January nights of 26°, with about 12 inches of snow a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The median household earns $204,886, against $93,170 across Virginia, one input to its A+ for jobs and income.
30% of Independent Hill residents are under 18. People 65 and older are 8% of residents (17% statewide); children under 18 are 30% of residents (22% statewide). Four-year graduates: 51% of adults 25 and older here, 42% across Virginia.
| Independent Hill | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 30% | 23% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 8.4% | 16% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 51% | 44% | 29% |
| Median age | 38 years | 38.5 years | 40.5 years |
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.1 points. Across Virginia, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Independent Hill | VA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 16.9% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.1% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.1% | 13.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.1% | 13.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 20.8% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.9% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 5.8% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 2.6% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.1% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.6% | 23.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.2% | 17.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.7% | 7.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 30.4% | 23.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 21% | 18.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
The median property tax bill is $6,236, against $2,790 across Virginia, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The median rent in Independent Hill is $2,295 a month. A home in Independent Hill typically sold within 34 days of listing. 44% of the homes sold in Independent Hill went for more than their asking price.
| Independent Hill | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 96% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $2,295 a month | $1,760 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Independent Hill. Close and well known come first.
Big draw27 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw27 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw25 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw26 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw27 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw26 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a yearWhite House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain
Independent Hill is unincorporated, so Prince William County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Where Independent Hill’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
2 within 15 miles of the center of Independent Hill
About 5 of every 100 Independent Hill residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
Unincorporated town in Virginia, United States
Independent Hill is an unincorporated town in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. It is located along State Route 234 at the intersection with Joplin Road. There are only a few remaining businesses. In early 2006, a realignment of 234 bypassed the town, leaving it on a side road. The greater Independent Hill area is defined by the Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP), with a population of 10,165 as of 2020. Independent Hill is also the home of the Prince William County School Board Complex. The administrative, support, and maintenance personnel of the school system report there. The Greenwood Gold Mine operated nearby for a few years before closing in 1885.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
2 towns share a border with Independent Hill.
| Town | VA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Hill | #98 | A− | C | — | B | A |
| Montclair | #101 | A− | C− | — | B | A |
| Dale City | #117 | B+ | C+ | — | B | B |
Independent Hill, Montclair and Dale City report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Independent Hill with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
By most measures, yes. Independent Hill grades A− overall, better than 81% of U.S. towns and #98 of 249 in Virginia. It grades A for health and B for schools.
The typical home is worth about $674,000, 64% above the Virginia typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
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