Health Profile of Independence, Missouri
Independence Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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C
Independence Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Independence | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 75.9 | 76.9 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 12.4% | 8.8% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 18.4% | 19.0% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Independence is 75.9 years, about 1.0 years shorter than the Missouri average of 76.9 years. The uninsured rate is 12.4%, higher than the Missouri average of 8.8%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 18.4% of residents, lower than the Missouri average of 19.0%.
Population by Age
Older residents
43,984 residents in Independence are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 3,327 1,181 men · 2,146 women
- 75–84 6,928 2,748 men · 4,181 women
- 65–74 11,223 5,199 men · 6,024 women
- 50–64 22,506 10,920 men · 11,585 women
Younger residents
26,528 residents in Independence are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 7,981 3,932 boys · 4,049 girls
- 7–12 7,745 3,995 boys · 3,751 girls
- 3–7 6,123 3,227 boys · 2,896 girls
- 0–3 4,678 2,421 boys · 2,257 girls
About 9,599 residents in Independence (8.0% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 75.9 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Independence | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 11.2% | 11.9% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 7.0% | 7.3% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 7.7% | 8.3% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 35.0% | 38.1% | 34.3% |
On average, diseases in Independence are about the same as in Missouri.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Independence | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 21.5% | 22.8% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 19.0% | 16.4% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 28.7% | 29.0% | 25.1% |
The rate of binge drinking in Independence is about 16% higher than in Missouri.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 200,317 cigarettes a day, 6.0 million a month, or 73.1 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 2.2 million minutes a day and 804.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Independence is 75.9 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.06 lifetimes a day, or 20 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Independence | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 7.30 | 6.78 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 7.3 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Independence is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Independence, MO Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Independence, MO compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence, MO | 120,545 | 75.9 yrs #2/2 | 12.4% #2/2 | 35.0% #2/2 |
| Blue Springs, MO | 48,094 | 79.3 yrs | 8.0% | 32.2% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Independence, Missouri has an overall health index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Missouri, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Independence, Missouri.
Is Independence, Missouri a healthy place to live?
Independence, Missouri has a Map AI Health Index grade of C, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in Independence, Missouri?
People in Independence, Missouri can expect to live 75.9 years on average, 1.0 years shorter than the Missouri average of 76.9.
What percentage of Independence, Missouri residents are uninsured?
12.4% of residents in Independence, Missouri have no health insurance, about 1 in 8 people, 3.6 points above the Missouri rate of 8.8%.
How common is obesity in Independence, Missouri?
35.0% of adults in Independence, Missouri are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 3.1 points below the Missouri rate of 38.1%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Independence, Missouri go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 200,317 cigarettes a day, 6.0 million a month, or 73.1 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 2.2 million minutes a day and 804.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Independence is 75.9 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.06 lifetimes a day, or 20 lifetimes a year.
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