Hi... I thought of to share with you all.
I lived in Independence from March 2003 to March 2007. Right now, I live in Strawberry Point as I moved this month because the rental for apartment in Indepenedence went up 74 dollars more this year. As a fact, Independence has a great school system but I see declining there. There is problems with budget and trying to get vote for new high school to be built. It has turned down three times in past 5 years for new high school due to tax levy. I agree with daydreamer earlier in this thread. Also I agree with Laurre and EXITTOBEND, too, as well.
About job situation, you will see lots of jobs posted and they are mostly in local especially hospitals. You don't see lots of technology jobs in this area as I am looking for (Geographic Information System) GIS job. Only big cities like Waterloo, Dubuque and Cedar Rapids do have but not lots.
Kevin