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Living in
Bolivar.
About
Life in Bolivar
Bolivar is a community of 10,996 people in Missouri. The median household income is $49,622, median rent runs about $812 per month, and median home values are around $201,600. Unemployment is low at 4.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Bolivar at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.8%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
85.6%
of households
Population Growth
+11.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from France
Who lives in Bolivar: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bolivar, the largest foreign-born group is from France (16.4%), and 2.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
20.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.5%
of households
Married Couples
44.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Bolivar
In Bolivar, rent runs 21% below the MO average, and home values are 12% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,093
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $258,095 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Bolivar
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Bolivar, is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Bolivar: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Bolivar Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.1 min avg
How Bolivar residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bolivar, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Springfield Branson National Airport (SGF)
Small hub766k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 59% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bolivar runs 59% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
136.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,720.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bolivar Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
54.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Bolivar, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Drought | $594,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Hail | $12.4M |
| 2023 | 23 | Drought | $3.5M |
| 2022 | 17 | Drought | $7.9M |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $785,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Flash Flood | $637,000 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $431,000 |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $64,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Greene County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Bolivar) is typically good — 228 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
228
per year
Moderate Days
132
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Greene County, MO (24 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bolivar has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.2"
Annual Snowfall
9.0"
Hot Days/Year
41
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 22°F | 2.31" |
| Feb | 48°F | 25°F | 2.25" |
| Mar | 58°F | 34°F | 3.59" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 4.96" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 5.90" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.88" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 4.62" |
| Aug | 88°F | 65°F | 3.71" |
| Sep | 81°F | 57°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 70°F | 45°F | 3.79" |
| Nov | 57°F | 34°F | 3.42" |
| Dec | 46°F | 26°F | 2.70" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bolivar
Bolivar has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Citizens Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bolivar
Bolivar's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bolivar
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,341 students · in-state tuition $31,500 · 46% graduate · median earnings $50,155 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 144 students · in-state tuition $29,925 · 60% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bolivar
Bolivar has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
35 mi awayGeorge Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
67 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awayPea Ridge National Military Park
National Military Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bolivar
Polk County Library
1690 W Broadway St, Bolivar
Cities Near Bolivar
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bolivar?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bolivar FAQ
Is Bolivar, Missouri affordable?⌄
Bolivar's median rent is $812/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,622/year. Median home value is $201,600.
Is Bolivar, Missouri safe?⌄
Bolivar's violent crime rate was 136 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1720 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bolivar, Missouri?⌄
Polk County, which includes Bolivar, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bolivar, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Bolivar is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $812/month and median household income is $49,622/year. The median home value is $201,600. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bolivar, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Bolivar is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from