Independence, MO vs Mountain Brook, AL

Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.

Score Snapshot

No universal winner

Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.

Independence

73.6

#702 nationally

vs

Mountain Brook

69.8

#1170 nationally

Mountain Brook leads in crime level (1.8 vs 15.6). Mountain Brook leads in median household income ($167,007 vs $57,415). Independence leads in cost of living index (90 vs 161).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Independence, MO Mountain Brook, AL
WhereAtHome Score 73.6 (#702) 69.8 (#1170)
Population 120,922 21,737
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $214,173 $1,068,731
Median Household Income $57,415 $167,007
Average Commute 23.9 min 17.5 min
Walk Score 28 21
Crime Level 15.6 1.8
School Rating N/A N/A
Cost of Living Index 90 161
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+19.3 D+10.4