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Compare towns

Ozark vs Union

155 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+28% in Ozark) and home values (+24% in Ozark).

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Ozark, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 22,417 people
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Union, MOHomes around $260KMissouri · 12,781 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.

OzarkKnown for its schools
Schools#17 for schools in MOof 226 towns Housing$321K typical home20% above the MO typical home HealthHealthier than 59%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Ozark →
UnionHomes around $260K
Housing$260K typical home3% below the MO typical home Health58% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 15%of U.S. towns we grade All about Union →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

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

Rent+28%
Rent runs higher in Ozark
Ozark $1,097Union $858
Home values+24%
Homes cost more in Ozark
Ozark $254,800Union $205,200
★ What stands out · Report cards

Ozark places higher on 13 of 23 MO lists

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
B+OzarkSafer than 71% of U.S. towns C−UnionSafer than 15% of U.S. towns
Schools
A+OzarkBetter than 95% of districts in the state B−UnionBetter than 50% of districts in the state
Health
BOzarkHealthier than 59% of U.S. towns C+UnionHealthier than 42% of U.S. towns
13Ozark
10Union

Lists won, of 23 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Highest graduation rateSchools · 216 towns #1#165 SafestSafety · 156 towns #18#117 Best schoolsSchools · 226 towns #17#124 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 261 towns #196#103 Lowest obesityHealth · 261 towns #68#146 Cheapest rentCost of living · 256 towns #173#102 Rent easiest to affordCost of living · 85 towns #26#4 Lowest depressionHealth · 261 towns #152#203

Left end = #1 in Missouri. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Ozark’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $340 more a month in Ozark

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.

Ozark$1,890/mo
Typical home $321K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76% · or rent about $1,097/mo · Housing →
Union$1,540/mo
Typical home $260K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.85% · or rent about $858/mo · Housing →

The difference: $340 a month, about $4,100 a year, between Ozark and Union.

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.

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
OzarkUnion
Snow a year7″14″
January low21°F23°F
July high89°F91°F
Growing season (days)189d194d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)44th64th
Outdoors & history
OzarkUnion
Trails2 mi2 mi
Conserved land1.5%2.2%
Settled18181826
National Register places2—
Archive photos127
Famous people born here13
Community
OzarkUnion
Library hours a week58 hrs61 hrs
Colleges in town11
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

155 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

OzarkMOUnionMO
Ozark ↔ Union155 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.

OzarkUnion
People
Population 22,417Highest 12,781Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +19.4%Lowest MO: +2.8% +21%Highest MO: +2.8%
Median age 33.8±1.6Highest 13% below MO 33.3±2.6Lowest 15% below MO
Ozark and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 27.9%±2.8Highest MO: 22.3% 26.4%±3.6Lowest MO: 22.3%
Ozark and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.6%±2Highest MO: 17.9% 12.4%±1.7Lowest MO: 17.9%
Ozark and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.7%Highest MO: 32.4% 23.7%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4%±1Highest MO: 5.7% 3.2%±1.1Lowest MO: 5.7%
Ozark and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $74,182±$6kHighest 5% above MO $73,435±$8kLowest 4% above MO
Ozark and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $254,800±$14kHighest 11% above MO $205,200±$10kLowest 11% below MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,097±$84Highest 6% above MO $858±$53Lowest 17% below MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,926Highest about the MO average $1,739Lowest 11% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 38.1%±5.5Highest MO: 45.6% 24.8%±7.5Lowest MO: 45.6%
Below poverty line 12.6%Highest MO: 12.6% 8.1%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 62.6%Highest MO: 68.1% 60.6%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 2002Highest 24 yrs newer than MO 1996Lowest 18 yrs newer than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minLowest about the MO average 24 minHighest about the MO average
Work from home 8%±1.9Lowest MO: 13% 9%±2.7Highest MO: 13%
Union and Ozark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11%Lowest 18.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.8 miLowest 24.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.75Lowest 1.04Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Springfield (52%)Washington (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in UnionFew work in Ozark
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.5%Lowest 2.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 2.1 miLowest 2.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 8Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 68.9Highest 61.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #17 of 226 in MO#124 of 226 in MO
School district OZARK R-VIUNION R-XI
High school in town Ozark HighUnion High
Students per teacherat that high school 14.9Lowest 15.4Highest
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.

Ozark neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ozark’s Town Square.

Union neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Union’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Ozark

N
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Nixa24,836 people · $259K homes
F
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Fremont Hills1,574 people · $462K homes

Towns like Ozark

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Republic19,829 people · $212K homes
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Grain Valley16,271 people · $284K homes
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Belton25,008 people · $203K homes
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Overland15,695 people · $132K homes

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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