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

BRepublicSafer than 63% of U.S. towns C−UnionSafer than 15% of U.S. towns

Schools

ARepublicBetter than 92% of districts in the state B−UnionBetter than 50% of districts in the state

Health

C+RepublicHealthier than 44% of U.S. towns C+UnionHealthier than 42% of U.S. towns

13Republic

10Union

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

SafestSafety · 156 towns #33#117 Highest graduation rateSchools · 216 towns #53#165 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 261 towns #223#103 Best schoolsSchools · 226 towns #22#124 Most conserved landOutdoors · 235 towns #190#110 Cheapest rentCost of living · 256 towns #181#102 Rent easiest to affordCost of living · 85 towns #28#4 Lowest depressionHealth · 261 towns #152#203

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Down paymentRate%

Republic$1,580/mo

Typical home $270K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.75% · or rent about $1,123/mo · Housing →

Union$1,540/mo

Typical home $260K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.85% · or rent about $858/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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

RepublicUnion

Snow a year14″14″

January low24°F 23°F

July high90°F 91°F

Growing season (days)199d 194d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)37th 64th

Outdoors & history

RepublicUnion

Trails2 mi 2 mi

Conserved land0.9%2.2%

Settled1871 1826

National Register places1 —

Archive photos3 7

Famous people born here3 3

Community

RepublicUnion

Library hours a week57 hrs 61 hrs

Colleges in town—1

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined1 0

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

158 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

RepublicMO UnionMO

Republic ↔ Union158 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.

Only big differences vs Missouri average

RepublicUnion

People

Population 19,829Highest 12,781Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +27.1%Highest MO: +2.8% +21%Lowest MO: +2.8%

Median age 33.2±2.6Lowest 15% below MO 33.3±2.6Highest 15% below MO

Union and Republic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 27%±3.5Highest MO: 22.3% 26.4%±3.6Lowest MO: 22.3%

Republic and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 15.8%±2.7Highest MO: 17.9% 12.4%±1.7Lowest MO: 17.9%

Republic and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.3%Highest MO: 32.4% 23.7%Lowest MO: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4%±1.4Highest MO: 5.7% 3.2%±1.1Lowest MO: 5.7%

Republic and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $65,729±$4kLowest 7% below MO $73,435±$8kHighest 4% above MO

Union and Republic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $211,500±$12kHighest 8% below MO $205,200±$10kLowest 11% below MO

Republic and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,123±$75Highest 9% above MO $858±$53Lowest 17% below MO

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,578Lowest 19% below MO $1,739Highest 11% below MO

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 38.8%±8.8Highest MO: 45.6% 24.8%±7.5Lowest MO: 45.6%

Republic and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 17.7%Highest MO: 12.6% 8.1%Lowest MO: 12.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 60.1%Lowest MO: 68.1% 60.6%Highest MO: 68.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 2001Highest 23 yrs newer than MO 1996Lowest 18 yrs newer than MO

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 25 minHighest 6% above MO 24 minLowest about the MO average

Work from home 9.6%±2.8Highest MO: 13% 9%±2.7Lowest MO: 13%

Republic and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 11.4%Lowest 18.5%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.3 miLowest 24.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.64Lowest 1.04Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Springfield (57%)Washington (12%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in UnionFew work in Republic

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.9%Lowest 2.2%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 1.8 miLowest 2.3 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.3 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Lowest 8Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.0Lowest 61.1Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 226 in MO #124 of 226 in MO

School district REPUBLIC R-IIIUNION R-XI

High school in town Republic HighUnion High

Students per teacherat that high school 16.9Highest 15.4Lowest

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.

Republic neighborsTown Square →

T Weaver · 3d

Missing Local Spots

1 neighbor in Republic can answer.

Union neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Union’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Republic and Union

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Republic

+ Compare

Springfield169,954 people · $178K homes

Towns like Republic

+ Compare

Ozark22,417 people · $255K homes

+ Compare

Webb City13,221 people · $169K homes

+ Compare

Belton25,008 people · $203K homes

+ Compare

Neosho13,224 people · $163K 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.

Republic vs Union

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

Republic places higher on 13 of 23 MO lists

A typical home costs about the same each month

What daily life feels like in each

158 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Missing Local Spots

Set another town beside Republic and Union

Bordering Republic

Towns like Republic

Post to Republic

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