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Compare towns

Union vs Ozark

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

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

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

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

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

Left end = #1 in Missouri. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Union’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.

Union$1,540/mo
Typical home $260K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.85% · or rent about $858/mo · Housing →
Ozark$1,890/mo
Typical home $321K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76% · or rent about $1,097/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
UnionOzark
Snow a year14″7″
January low23°F21°F
July high91°F89°F
Growing season (days)194d189d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)64th44th
Outdoors & history
UnionOzark
Trails2 mi2 mi
Conserved land2.2%1.5%
Settled18261818
National Register places—2
Archive photos712
Famous people born here31
Community
UnionOzark
Library hours a week61 hrs58 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.

UnionMOOzarkMO
Union ↔ Ozark155 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.

UnionOzark
People
Population 12,781Lowest 22,417Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +21%Highest MO: +2.8% +19.4%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 33.3±2.6Lowest 15% below MO 33.8±1.6Highest 13% 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 26.4%±3.6Lowest MO: 22.3% 27.9%±2.8Highest 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+ 12.4%±1.7Lowest MO: 17.9% 14.6%±2Highest 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+ 23.7%Lowest MO: 32.4% 30.7%Highest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.2%±1.1Lowest MO: 5.7% 4%±1Highest 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 $73,435±$8kLowest 4% above MO $74,182±$6kHighest 5% 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 $205,200±$10kLowest 11% below MO $254,800±$14kHighest 11% above MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $858±$53Lowest 17% below MO $1,097±$84Highest 6% above MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,739Lowest 11% below MO $1,926Highest about the MO average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 24.8%±7.5Lowest MO: 45.6% 38.1%±5.5Highest MO: 45.6%
Below poverty line 8.1%Lowest MO: 12.6% 12.6%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.6%Lowest MO: 68.1% 62.6%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1996Lowest 18 yrs newer than MO 2002Highest 24 yrs newer than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minHighest about the MO average 24 minLowest about the MO average
Work from home 9%±2.7Highest MO: 13% 8%±1.9Lowest 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 18.5%Highest 11%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.8 miHighest 11.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.04Highest 0.75Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Washington (12%)Springfield (52%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in OzarkFew work in Union
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.2%Highest 1.5%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.3 miHighest 2.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 61.1Lowest 68.9Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #124 of 226 in MO#17 of 226 in MO
School district UNION R-XIOZARK R-VI
High school in town Union HighOzark High
Students per teacherat that high school 15.4Highest 14.9Lowest
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.

Union neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Union’s Town Square.

Ozark neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ozark’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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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