The Town FilesIndependence, Wisconsin
City in Trempealeau County · population 1,498 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,000
- Household income
- $58,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 31.5
Independence is a city of 1,498 people in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $166,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Independence ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Independence is worth $166,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $58,000, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $911 a month. 44.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $911 | $951 |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 44.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 33.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.1°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 27, 1968 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 10, 1968.
Severe weather in Trempealeau County since 1996
Trempealeau County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Trempealeau County
Trempealeau County had 12,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Independence
3 public schools with 422 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Elementary | PK-5 | 189 | 11.8 |
| Independence High | 9-12 | 145 | 14.5 |
| Independence Middle | 6-8 | 88 | 12.6 |
Towns near Independence
- Arcadia, WI1.5 mi · 1,696 people · home $266,900
- Lincoln, WI5.0 mi · 779 people · home $208,300
- Whitehall, WI5.4 mi · 1,645 people · home $152,100
- Arcadia, WI5.5 mi · 3,737 people · home $169,500
- Burnside, WI5.8 mi · 507 people · home $194,200
- Blair, WI6.1 mi · 1,325 people · home $141,500
- Preston, WI8.5 mi · 942 people · home $286,700
- Pigeon, WI11.5 mi · 1,018 people · home $217,500
Independence questions
Is Independence, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 23% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 29%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.5).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $166,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,000, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $911 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 40.6 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 27, 1968. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)