Population

Schenectady

68,521

Independence

121,944

Median Income

Schenectady

$56,398

Independence

$59,480

Home Value

Schenectady

$152,000

Independence

$166,400

Rent

Schenectady

$1,109

Independence

$1,061

Crime Rate

Schenectady

6.46

Independence

5.72

Cost of Living

Schenectady

101.7

Independence

97.5

Avg Temp

Schenectady

N/A

Independence

N/A

Unemployment

Schenectady

8.9%

Independence

6.0%

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How Similar Are Schenectady & Independence?

Independence is Schenectady's #20 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Schenectady

68,521

vs

Independence

121,944

Different · 44% difference

Independence has a 44% larger population than Schenectady.

Violent Crime

Schenectady

6.46

vs

Independence

5.72

Different · 11% difference
🚨

Schenectady has a 11% higher violent crime than Independence.

Property Crime

🔒

Schenectady

31.29

vs

Independence

35.24

Different · 11% difference

Independence has a 11% higher property crime than Schenectady.

Political Leaning

Schenectady

44.6%

vs

Independence

39.5%

Different · 11% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Schenectady has a stronger Democratic lean (11% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Schenectady

8.9%

vs

Independence

6.0%

Different · 32% difference

Schenectady has a 32% higher unemployment than Independence.

Median Income

Schenectady

$56,398

vs

Independence

$59,480

Match · 5% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 5% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Schenectady

$152,000

vs

Independence

$166,400

Match · 9% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 9% difference.

Education

Schenectady

15.7%

vs

Independence

14.3%

Match · 8% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 8% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Schenectady

49.9%

vs

Independence

72.2%

Different · 31% difference

Independence has a 31% higher demographics than Schenectady.

Cost of Living

Schenectady

101.7

vs

Independence

97.5

Match · 4% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 4% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Schenectady and Independence share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Schenectady

vsof 8

0

Independence

Independence leads in 5 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Independence leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Independence has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,358 vs $1,702 in Schenectady (25% lower). Independence has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,197 vs $1,417 in Schenectady (18% lower). Independence scores 104.1 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 121.3 in Schenectady.

Overall Cost Index

Schenectady101.7
Independence97.5

Housing Index

Schenectady121.3
Independence104.1

Food Index

Schenectady93.1
Independence95.5

Transportation Index

Schenectady86.2
Independence90.9

Healthcare Index

Schenectady94.5
Independence96.4

Utilities Index

Schenectady100.1
Independence98.1

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Schenectady$44,768
Independence$42,895

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Schenectady$105,816
Independence$101,389

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Schenectady$1,417
Independence$1,197

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Schenectady$1,702
Independence$1,358

Housing Market — Independence leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Independence has a median property tax of $1,856 vs $4,925 in Schenectady (165% lower). Independence has a single-family homes of 77.0% compared to 41.9% in Schenectady. Independence has a owner-occupied of 61.0% compared to 44.8% in Schenectady.

Median Home Value

Schenectady$152,000
Independence$166,400

Median Rent

Schenectady$1,109
Independence$1,061

Median Property Tax

Schenectady$4,925
Independence$1,856

Owner-Occupied

Schenectady44.8%
Independence61.0%

Vacancy Rate

Schenectady8.2%
Independence8.1%

Single-Family Homes

Schenectady41.9%
Independence77.0%

Jobs & Economy — Independence leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Independence has a poverty rate of 15.3% compared to 23.1% in Schenectady. Independence has a unemployment rate of 6.0% compared to 8.9% in Schenectady. Independence: 60,872 vs Schenectady: 33,873 for labor force.

Median Household Income

Schenectady$56,398
Independence$59,480

Per Capita Income

Schenectady$31,536
Independence$31,683

Poverty Rate

Schenectady23.1%
Independence15.3%

Unemployment Rate

Schenectady8.9%
Independence6.0%

Labor Force

Schenectady33,873
Independence60,872

Mean Commute

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Work from Home

Schenectady8.8%
Independence10.1%

Private Sector

Schenectady87.7%
Independence96.5%

Government Sector

Schenectady41.8%
Independence46.4%

Crime & Safety — Independence leads

Source: FBI UCR

Schenectady has a property crime clearance of 17.9% compared to 10.2% in Independence. Schenectady has a violent crime clearance of 43.3% compared to 32.6% in Independence. Independence has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.76 compared to 1.01 in Schenectady.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady6.46
Independence5.72

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady31.29
Independence35.24

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady0.10
Independence0.09

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady1.01
Independence0.76

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady4.78
Independence3.97

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady4.01
Independence4.07

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady25.08
Independence23.01

Violent Crime Clearance

Schenectady43.3%
Independence32.6%

Property Crime Clearance

Schenectady17.9%
Independence10.2%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Avg Annual High

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Avg Annual Low

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Sunny Days per Year

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Annual Rainfall

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Annual Snowfall

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Avg Humidity

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Independence has a high school diploma or higher of 39.9% compared to 35.9% in Schenectady. Schenectady has a bachelor's degree or higher of 15.7% compared to 14.3% in Independence.

Public Schools

Schenectady0
Independence0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Colleges & Universities

Schenectady0
Independence0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Schenectady15.7%
Independence14.3%

High School Diploma or Higher

Schenectady35.9%
Independence39.9%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Independence has a population of 121,944, about 1.8x the size of Schenectady (68,521). Schenectady skews younger with a median age of 35.8 vs 38.4.

Population

Schenectady68,521
Independence121,944

Median Age

Schenectady36
Independence38

Avg Household Size

Schenectady2.3
Independence2.4

Married Population

Schenectady29.1%
Independence36.3%

Foreign Born

Schenectady15.4%
Independence5.3%

White

Schenectady49.9%
Independence72.2%

Black

Schenectady20.8%
Independence10.8%

Hispanic

Schenectady13.3%
Independence12.4%

Asian

Schenectady5.8%
Independence1.4%

Schenectady

Independence

Healthcare — Independence leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Independence: 5 vs Schenectady: 4 for with emergency services. Independence: 3.4 vs Schenectady: 2.8 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Schenectady5
Independence5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Schenectady2.8
Independence3.4

With Emergency Services

Schenectady4
Independence5

Transportation & Commute

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Schenectady has a public transit of 8.0% compared to 0.3% in Independence. Independence has a drive alone of 81.2% compared to 67.7% in Schenectady. Independence has a work from home of 10.1% compared to 8.8% in Schenectady.

Mean Commute Time

SchenectadyN/A
IndependenceN/A

Drive Alone

Schenectady67.7%
Independence81.2%

Public Transit

Schenectady8.0%
Independence0.3%

Bicycle

Schenectady0.2%
Independence0.0%

Work from Home

Schenectady8.8%
Independence10.1%

Airports

Schenectady0
Independence0

Cities Similar to Schenectady, NY

Compare Schenectady against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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