HomeOhioCuyahoga CountyIndependence
Independence, Ohio
Inside Independence's city limits, a shallow water table limits basements on 45% of mapped land. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 3%.
That water-table share is below Cuyahoga County's 51%. FEMA's flood data list 25 flood losses since 2016 in ZIP code 44131 overlapping the city. Of its 3,217 homes, 64% were built before 1980; the median dates from 1960.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources · in Cuyahoga County
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
flood losses since 2016 in 1 overlapping ZIP
of homes built before 1980
Basement waterproofing in Independence
Basement waterproofing in Independence: a shallow water table limits basements on 45% of Independence's mapped land, and the ZIP code overlapping Independence logged 25 FEMA flood losses since 2016.
In Cuyahoga County, 47% of the 90 flood-loss buildings with a recorded foundation type had basements.
About 3,000 of Independence's 3,217 homes are detached houses.
Soil under Independence city limits
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 3.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 44.9% |
| Septic fields very limited | 63.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.7% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 3.2% |
| Urban land, not rated | 11.0% |
| Mapped soil | 6,163 acres |
What the numbers mean here
On 45% of Independence's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
USDA rates 64% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought in Cuyahoga County
0% of Cuyahoga County is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. County detail.
Flood losses by ZIP code
FEMA flood records since 2016 in the ZIP codes that overlap Independence. ZIP areas reach past city limits.
| ZIP | Share of city land | Flood losses | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44131 | 95% | 25 | $2.3 million |
Homes in Independence
| Housing units | 3,217 |
| Median year built | 1960 |
| Built before 1980 | 64% |
| Built 2000 or later | 13% |
| Owner-occupied | 90% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $309,900 |
| Single-family detached | 95% |
Nearby cities
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley View | 1 mi | 5% | 32% |
| Seven Hills | 2 mi | 0% | 58% |
| Garfield Heights | 3 mi | under 1% | 28% |
| Brooklyn Heights | 3 mi | 1% | 14% |
| Walton Hills | 4 mi | 1% | 56% |
| Cuyahoga Heights | 4 mi | 2% | 5% |
| Maple Heights | 4 mi | under 1% | 37% |
| Broadview Heights | 5 mi | under 1% | 77% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 5, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status