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Living in
Ozark.
About
Life in Ozark
This county seat just outside Springfield has genuinely exploded over the past decade—the population nearly doubled from about 10,000 in 2000 to over 21,000 today, and for good reason. The job market is solid with only a 3.5% unemployment rate, and your commute is reasonable—most people average about 24 minutes—though you'll definitely need a car since everything spreads along the US 65 business loop. The community skews young and family-oriented, with about 40% of households having kids under 18, strong schools anchored by the Ozark R-VI district (and that fierce Tiger-versus-Eagle rivalry with nearby Nixa keeps local pride alive), and reliable recreation through Finley River Park with its baseball fields, soccer amenities, and the Chadwick Flyer trail if you want to escape on weekends.
Ozark at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
4.1%
Broadband Internet
92.3%
of households
Population Growth
+10.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Ozark: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ozark, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.6%), and 3.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.9%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
45.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.5%
of households
Married Couples
50.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.62
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 6% above MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Ozark
In Ozark, rent runs 6% above the MO average, and home values are 11% above the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,926
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $322,456 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MO average
Unemployment in Ozark
Unemployment in Christian County, which includes Ozark, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Ozark: Christian County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Christian County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Ozark Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.5 min avg
How Ozark residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ozark, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 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 81% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ozark runs 81% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
63.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
788
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ozark Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 30 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
66.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Christian County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Christian County, which includes Ozark, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 30 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $762,000 |
| 2024 | 23 | Flash Flood | $380,500 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $400,000 |
| 2022 | 24 | Flash Flood | $255,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $196,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $265,000 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.2M |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $538,000 |
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
Christian 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 17 miles from Ozark) 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 (17 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ozark has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.3"
Annual Snowfall
6.8"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
74
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 21°F | 2.44" |
| Feb | 49°F | 25°F | 2.41" |
| Mar | 58°F | 34°F | 4.24" |
| Apr | 68°F | 43°F | 4.70" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 5.34" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.68" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 4.06" |
| Aug | 89°F | 65°F | 3.16" |
| Sep | 82°F | 57°F | 4.20" |
| Oct | 70°F | 45°F | 3.58" |
| Nov | 57°F | 33°F | 3.71" |
| Dec | 47°F | 26°F | 2.75" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ozark
Uninsured
9.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ozark's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Cox Medical Centers
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Springfield
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.3 mi away · Springfield
Lakeland Behavioral Health System
Psychiatric · ER available · 12.7 mi away · Springfield
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.
Education13.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ozark
Ozark's student/teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.7% 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
30.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ozark (within 15 miles)
Missouri State University-Springfield
12 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 13,313 students · in-state tuition $10,128 · 59% graduate · median earnings $52,782 (10 yrs after entry)
Ozarks Technical Community College
13.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 8,165 students · in-state tuition $4,372 · 30% graduate · median earnings $40,171 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,383 students · in-state tuition $38,260 · 63% graduate · median earnings $45,136 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,229 students · in-state tuition $30,174 · 66% graduate · median earnings $47,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
13.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 632 students · in-state tuition $8,054 · 40% graduate · median earnings $45,136 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 540 students · in-state tuition $14,822 · 76% graduate · median earnings $65,436 (10 yrs after entry)
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, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ozark
Ozark has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
12 mi awayPea Ridge National Military Park
National Military Park
60 mi awayGeorge Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
63 mi awayBuffalo National River
National River
71 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ozark
Ozark Community Branch Library
1005 N 4th Ave, Ozark
Cities Near Ozark
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ozark?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ozark FAQ
Is Ozark, Missouri affordable?⌄
Ozark's median rent is $1,097/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,182/year. Median home value is $254,800.
Is Ozark, Missouri safe?⌄
Ozark's violent crime rate was 63 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 788 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ozark, Missouri?⌄
Christian County, which includes Ozark, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ozark, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Ozark is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,097/month and median household income is $74,182/year. The median home value is $254,800. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ozark, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Ozark is 24 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