CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

38.64° N · 77.43° W · GEOID 5139544

Independent Hill

Prince William County, Virginia · part of the Washington, DC metro

VirginiaIndependent Hill, VAIndependent HillIndependent Hill

The short answer

Independent Hill is home to 10,853 people. Median household income is $204,886 a year and median rent is $2,295 a month, 13.4% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $674,300, about 3.3x annual median household income.

What sets Independent Hill apart is how far household money goes. Money left after rent is $176,900, against $126,900 in its closest peers. Also notable: Rent took 19.5% of the median income in the 2019 survey and 13.4% in 2024. In the 25 places most like it the share rose 0.2 points on average, so affordability held up better here.

88OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

Independent Hill scores better than 88% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 19th of 190 in Virginia.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%81
Economy 20%98
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%36
Education 10%81
Commute 10%1
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$2,295
68% above the median place
Median household income
$204,886
155% above the median place
Median home value
$674,300
111% above the median place
Unemployment
2.1%
57% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

01

Moving to Independent Hill

Prince William County loses about 6.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in30,324
Moved out32,916
Net−2,592

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Virginia, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within VirginiaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$77K
Leavers$81K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Prince William County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.5% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.2% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Prince William County report $76,700 a year in income on average; those leaving, $80,900, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$91,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,295 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $3,109 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $674,300.
Getting to work
42 minutes each way on average; 23.2% work from home; 3.2% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Perry, UT matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
6.5%
14% above the median place
Moved from another state1
2.2%
13% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people6
-6.0
below the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureIndependent HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year16.5%14% above
Moved from another state12.2%13% above
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure-6.0below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6County figure$76,7139% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$80,86915% above
02

What it costs to live here

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 83 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

Independent Hill13.4%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$91,800
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
13.4%
34% below the median place
Home price to income
3.3x
13% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
13%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$177,100
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Independent Hill, $2,295 a month, and local prices for everything else (100.2 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Independent Hill, but easier on the budget

Places that match Independent Hill on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Perry, UT8310.6% vs 13.4%n/aCompare
Campton Hills, IL7610.0% vs 13.4%$7,700Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Independent Hill.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Independent Hill? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
96.1%
45% above the median place
Median year built1
2000
1% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$3,109
66% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureIndependent HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,29568% above
Rent to income113.4%34% below
Property tax rate10.9%1% above
Home price to income13.3x13% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure108.98% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,43851% above
Property tax paid (median)1$6,23691% above
Median home value1$674,300111% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure2.9%8% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure47.4%8% below
Homeownership196.1%45% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure50.9%1% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$3,10966% above
Vacant homes1County figure3.1%56% below
Median year built120001% above
03

Work and pay

Counting remote workers as zero, the average worker spends about 245 hours a year commuting, more than in 96% of the 2,241 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Mean commute1
42 min
67% above the median place
Median household income1
$204,886
155% above the median place
Unemployment1
2.1%
57% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$65,651 +64%
Works from home23.2% +86%
Commutes by transit3.2% 3.8×
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureIndependent HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$204,886155% above
Income per person1$65,65164% above
Unemployment12.1%57% below
Average annual pay5County figure$65,9750% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure2.4%35% below
Jobs5County figure146,1713% below
Poverty rate1County figure6.2%43% below
Mean commute142 min67% above
Works from home123.2%86% above
Commutes by transit13.2%275% above
04

Who lives here

Household size is 3.4, 37% above the median place.

Household size1
3.4
37% above the median place
Homes with broadband1
97.8%
6% above the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
51.5%
61% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher94.9% +3%
Born abroad14.2% +61%
Median age38.0 −3%
No health insurance6.1% −5%
All 8 people measures
MeasureIndependent HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population110,8533883rd largest
Median age138.03% below
Bachelor's or higher151.5%61% above
High school or higher194.9%3% above
Household size13.437% above
Born abroad114.2%61% above
No health insurance16.1%5% below
Homes with broadband197.8%6% above
05

Life in Independent Hill

40 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 97% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the highest of 195 Virginia places we track.

52 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents12.0 +18%
Playgrounds per 10k43.3 4.6×
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1.8 −83%
Libraries per 10k1.8 2.1×
Named paths and bike trails3 km +60%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Prince William Forest Park 4 miles
  • Manassas National Battlefield Park 13 miles
  • Piscataway Park 17 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars15.7 −25%
Shops24.1 −20%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.0 −27%
Doctors' offices and clinics15.8 −22%
Child care centers2.1 −9%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site9
4.1
87% below the median place
Public school students11
89,591
above the median place (median 4,897)
Shops per 10k7
24.1
20% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureIndependent HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure101above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure89,591above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher11County figure15.93% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure15.725% below
Shops per 10k7County figure24.120% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure3.027% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure15.822% below
Child care centers per 10k7County figure2.19% below
Parks per 10k812.018% above
Playgrounds per 10k843.3360% above
Grocery stores per 10k80.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k81.883% below
Libraries per 10k81.8111% above
Named paths and bike trails83.260% above
Transit stops per sq mi80.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site94.187% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles940above (median 2)
National Register listings10County figure52300% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Good air days is 95.6%, 40% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Independent Hill. Larger places are fetched first.

Good air days14
95.6%
40% above the median place
Wildfire risk13
18.2
70% below the median place
Median air quality index14
35
19% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureIndependent HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure88°F1% above
January average low12County figure26°F3% above
Average temperature12County figure56°F3% above
Annual precipitation12County figure42.1 in4% below
Natural hazard risk13County figure83.210% below
Hurricane risk13County figure83.017% above
Tornado risk13County figure76.56% below
Wildfire risk13County figure18.270% below
Heat wave risk13County figure93.44% above
Median air quality index14County figure3519% below
Good air days14County figure95.6%40% above
08

Independent Hill in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 13% of the median income in 2030, down from 13% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Independent Hill does better than 81% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 17%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$2,295/mo (2024)$2,780/mo$2,280 to $3,380/mo+3.2%
Median household income$204,886 (2024)$258,000$218,000 to $305,500+3.9%
Median home value$674,300 (2024)$945,000$686,000 to $1,302,000+5.8%

The median home would be worth 3.7 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.3 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Independent Hill

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Buckhall, VA$2,478$180,021Compare
Wantagh, NY$2,270$179,362Compare
Blauvelt, NY$2,410$174,255Compare
Bridgewater Center, NJ$2,662$205,595Compare
Bridgewater Center, NJBlauvelt, NYWantagh, NYBuckhall, VAIndependent Hill, VAIndependent HillBuckhallWantaghBridgewater CenterIndependent HillBuckhallWantaghBridgewater Center

Places built like Independent Hill

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Independent Hill performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Independent Hill, VA13.4%3.4%/yrn/a
Harrisburg, NC21.4%6.4%/yr9.1%Compare
Buckhall, VA16.5%4.6%/yrn/aCompare
Bensville, MD19.2%6.0%/yrn/aCompare
Linganore, MD17.2%4.4%/yrn/aCompare
Wesley Chapel, NC29.0%1.2%/yr10.3%Compare
Wedgefield, FL30.7%8.2%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Independent Hill a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 88 out of 100, better than 88% of the places we rate and 19th of 190 in Virginia. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Independent Hill expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 13.4% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $674,300.

What salary do you need to live in Independent Hill?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $91,800 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Independent Hill?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Buckhall, VA, Wantagh, NY, Blauvelt, NY and Bridgewater Center, NJ.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Independent Hill with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Independent Hill itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/independent-hill-virginia

Citytistics. “Independent Hill, Virginia.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/independent-hill-virginia/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.