Ozark receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Bolivar
Ozark
Opportunity
62 · Top 38%
vs80 · Top 7%
Growth
55 · Top 42%
vs72 · Top 14%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 40%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 33%
vs52 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
84 · Top 44%
vs95 · Top 19%
Schools
59 · Top 40%
vs93 · Top 2%
Access
81 · Bottom 23%
vs90 · Bottom 42%
Economic stability
35 · Bottom 12%
vs63 · Top 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Bolivar | Ozark | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,170 | 22,417 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $49,622 | $74,182 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,785 | $32,257 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,358/sq mi | 1,845/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $201,600 | $254,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $812 | $1,097 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.0% | 62.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.9% | 1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 30.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.8% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 180 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.9 | 8.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -77.8% | -1.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.7" | 46.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 24.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.1 | 33.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.43 | 13.18 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 40.4% | 60.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 47.9% | 64.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 47.1% | 35.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Bolivar
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, strong wind, cold wave.
Ozark
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, tornado, strong wind.
Full profiles: Bolivar, MO · Ozark, MO · How this is calculated: methodology