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Gower vs Oronogo

168 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (2.8× in Gower) and work from home (+12.3 pts in Oronogo).

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Gower, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 1,799 people
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Oronogo, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 2,804 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

GowerKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 90%of MO districts Housing$321K typical home20% above the MO typical home All about Gower →
OronogoKnown for its schools
Schools#1 for schools in MOof 226 towns Housing$250K typical home7% below the MO typical home SafetySafer than 87%of U.S. towns we grade All about Oronogo →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker2.8×
Gower is more of a job hub
Gower 0.45Oronogo 0.16
Work from home+12.3 pts
More people work from home in Oronogo
Oronogo 19.6%Gower 7.3%
Typical home built29 yrs
Gower’s homes are older
Oronogo 2004Gower 1975
Property tax bill+30%
Tax bills are bigger in Gower
Gower $1,624Oronogo $1,247
Average commute7 min
Oronogo has the shorter commute
Gower 29 minOronogo 22 min
Growth since 2010+6.9 pts
Oronogo has grown faster since 2010
Oronogo +7.4%Gower +0.5%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $440 more a month in Gower

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Gower$1,890/mo
Typical home $321K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76% · or rent about $926/mo · Housing →
Oronogo$1,450/mo
Typical home $250K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.66% · or rent about $1,299/mo · Housing →

The difference: $440 a month, about $5,300 a year, between Gower and Oronogo.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Missouri ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–GowerNot graded AOronogoSafer than 87% of U.S. towns
Schools
AGowerBetter than 90% of districts in the state AOronogoBetter than 89% of districts in the state
Health
C+GowerHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns C+OronogoHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
GowerOronogo
Snow a year18″8″
January low20°F—
July high88°F—
Growing season (days)193d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th73rd
Outdoors & history
GowerOronogo
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land0%—
Archive photos1—
Famous people born here—1
Community
GowerOronogo
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

168 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

GowerMOOronogoMO
Gower ↔ Oronogo168 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

GowerOronogo
People
Population 1,799Lowest 2,804Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +0.5%Lowest MO: +2.8% +7.4%Highest MO: +2.8%
Median age 33±3.5Highest 15% below MO 32.8±3.3Lowest 16% below MO
Gower and Oronogo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 33%±5.6Lowest MO: 22.3% 34.6%±6.2Highest MO: 22.3%
Oronogo and Gower are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.1%±4.9Highest MO: 17.9% 9.7%±3.1Lowest MO: 17.9%
Gower and Oronogo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 33.3%Highest MO: 32.4% 31%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.5%±3.1Highest MO: 5.7% 3.4%±1.9Lowest MO: 5.7%
Gower and Oronogo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $83,750±$21kLowest 18% above MO $91,563±$8kHighest 30% above MO
Oronogo and Gower are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $213,200±$17kHighest 7% below MO $188,500±$8kLowest 18% below MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $926±$123Lowest 10% below MO $1,299±$483Highest 26% above MO
Oronogo and Gower are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,624Highest 17% below MO $1,247Lowest 36% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 52.3%±29.6Highest MO: 45.6% 32%±31.9Lowest MO: 45.6%
Gower and Oronogo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.9%Highest MO: 12.6% 5%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 85%Lowest MO: 68.1% 90.9%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1975Lowest 3 yrs older than MO 2004Highest 26 yrs newer than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minHighest 22% above MO 22 minLowest 8% below MO
Work from home 7.3%±3.2Lowest MO: 13% 19.6%±7.1Highest MO: 13%
Work in townworking residents 7%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 25.8 miHighest 8.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.45Highest 0.16Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Kansas City (19%)Joplin (32%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in OronogoFew work in Gower
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 74.0Highest 64.0Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#1 of 226 in MO
School district EAST BUCHANAN CO. C-1 (025076)WEBB CITY R-VII
High school in town East Buchanan HighNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 13.5 —
Missouri average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Gower neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Gower’s Town Square.

Oronogo neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Oronogo’s Town Square.

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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