Independence, Wisconsin (1900), 1900
Independence’s story
150 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1900.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1876Independence is settled
IndependenceWI
A town of 1,487, settled in 1876. 2.1 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Wisconsin town.
Trash & recyclingPopulation
1,487
2025 Census estimate · −0.3% since 2020
Typical home
$235K
+8.4% in a year
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
31.5
years
Jobs based here
289
A commuter town
Is Independence a good place to live?
Independence’s best subject grades are a B+ for civic life and history; its weakest is a C− for hazard risk. Only 32 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score lower on hazard risk. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 71% of U.S. towns. Only 83 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score lower on incomes. Independence City Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places. Independence has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Independence stand out
Where Independence beats most towns.
Small town
1,487 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
ArcadiaBurnsideLincolnWhitehallIndependence
How Independence grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Independence is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →Jobs & incomeC−Open →SchoolsC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 2.2% of households have no car; 0.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $235K, 3.1 years of the county’s $76K median household incomeB+Open →HealthLess healthy than 64% of U.S. towns; Gundersen Tri-County Hospital & Clinics 8.3 miles awayC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsC−Open →History1 place on the National Register; 2 notable people born hereB+Open →Civic life8.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 31.5; 12% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Independence: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Independence, and how to reach them.
PowerRiverland Energy Cooperative16.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterIndependence WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpOnce a monthCurbside recyclingTown site
SchoolsIndependence School DistrictArcadia School District2 districts serve Independence; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCity of Independence ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5474754747 99%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Independence.
SchoolsC−
On state tests, Independence’s schools trail 78% of Wisconsin districts
Its public schools are run by the Independence School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
22%of WI districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 182 | C− |
| Independence HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 142 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Independence has 0.4 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Independence for work: only 5% work in town. Independence’s median household income is $58,000, below both Wisconsin’s towns ($87,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). Jobs based in Independence fell to 289 in 2023, 21 fewer than in 2013.
5%work in town
| Independence | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 10% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.8% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Independence5%
Whitehall34%
Arcadia12%
La Crosse4%
Eau Claire3%
9 mi
median commute distance
289
jobs based in Independence
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 29% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B+
Fewer of Independence’s households own their home than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
45% of Independence households own their home, against 74% in Wisconsin’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. Typical home values rose 8.4% in the year to September 2026. Independence’s median rent is $911 a month.
$235KZillow home value
| Independence | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 45% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $911 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Independence$235K
Wisconsin$337K
+8.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
High risk in Independence, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities. Since 2016, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Independence.
73risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2016
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Independence has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Independence has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 7° and about 41 inches of snow falls in a winter.
41″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–28°
Spring34–56°
Summer58–80°
Fall38–58°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC+
Independence stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with more of its adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance
14% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Independence. Independence beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 75% of adults had a checkup this year in Independence.
36%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Independence | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 7.1% | 8.1% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better24 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Independence | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 14% | 8% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 13.2% | 9.7% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 16.4% | 12.1% |
Gundersen Tri-County Hospital & Clinics
8.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsC−
Conserved land covers 0% of Independence
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 2,679 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Island Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Independence
19pages on Independence
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Independence; the nearest are
Winona State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Winona, MN21.3 mi$10,576 in-state tuitionMinnesota State College SoutheastCommunity college · Public · Winona, MN22 mi$6,432 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Independence residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A growing town
Independence has grown 12% since 2010
1,336 counted in 2010 and 1,498 in 2020; an estimated 1,487 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
About Independence
City in Wisconsin, United States
Independence is a city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,498 at the 2020 census. It is located at the confluence of Elk Creek and the Trempealeau River.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 781 ft
- ZIP code
- 54747
Questions about Independence
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Independence, WI a good place to live?
2.1 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Wisconsin town.
Is Independence, WI expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
What is Independence, WI known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Leo Ferdinand Dworschak and Grover L. Broadfoot.