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Living in
Branson.
About
Life in Branson
Branson is a community of 12,760 people in Missouri. The median household income is $51,978, median rent runs about $961 per month, and median home values are around $251,000. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.
Branson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.2%
Foreign-Born
4.2%
Broadband Internet
84.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Branson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Branson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.0%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.7%
of residents
65 and Older
24.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
39.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
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 7% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Branson
In Branson, rent runs 7% below the MO average, and home values are 9% above the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,571
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Vacant Homes
36.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $245,493 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2 pts above MO average
Unemployment in Branson
Unemployment in Taney County, which includes Branson, is 2 percentage points higher than the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Branson: Taney County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Taney County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Branson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.5 min avg
How Branson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Branson, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
Boone County Airport (HRO)
Regional airport · few flights3,632 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 27% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Branson runs 27% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
417.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,659.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Branson Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Taney County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Taney County, which includes Branson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45,000 |
| 2024 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.7M |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $750,000 |
| 2022 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $185,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $272,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Flash Flood | $665,000 |
| 2019 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $162,000 |
| 2018 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $364,000 |
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
Taney County, county-wide
Air Quality28 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Taney County, which includes Branson, is typically good.
Median AQI
28
Taney County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Branson has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.0"
Annual Snowfall
6.8"
Hot Days/Year
49
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
87
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
94
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 27°F | 2.81" |
| Feb | 49°F | 30°F | 2.91" |
| Mar | 58°F | 38°F | 4.29" |
| Apr | 68°F | 47°F | 4.77" |
| May | 75°F | 56°F | 5.54" |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 3.87" |
| Jul | 88°F | 69°F | 4.12" |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 4.15" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 5.08" |
| Oct | 70°F | 49°F | 3.86" |
| Nov | 58°F | 38°F | 3.93" |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 3.00" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Branson
Branson has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
18.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Cox Medical Center Branson
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.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Branson
Branson's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Branson
Branson has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
32 mi awayPea Ridge National Military Park
National Military Park
45 mi awayBuffalo National River
National River
47 mi awayGeorge Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
65 mi awayCities Near Branson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Branson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Branson FAQ
Is Branson, Missouri affordable?⌄
Branson's median rent is $961/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,978/year. Median home value is $251,000.
Is Branson, Missouri safe?⌄
Branson's violent crime rate was 418 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3660 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Branson, Missouri?⌄
Taney County, which includes Branson, has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Branson, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Branson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $961/month and median household income is $51,978/year. The median home value is $251,000. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Branson, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Branson is 18 minutes, which is shorter than 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