Downtown Branson Missouri · Tony Webster / CC BY-SA 2.0Titanic-Museum in Branson Missouri USA · Roland Arhelger / CC BY-SA 4.0Aerial photo of Table Rock Dam, lake, and White River, October 2009 · KTrimble (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0Branson Scenic Railway 2 · Elkman at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Branson is a small city of 12,651 in Missouri, with a median household income of $49,790
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Branson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Branson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Branson city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.2
Branson's overall cost of living index is 94.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Branson costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Branson, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$201,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$916
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
45.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,790
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Branson's violent crime rate is 477.6 per 100,000 residents
— 26% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
477.6 /100k
Property Crime
6016.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Branson is served primarily by BRANSON R-IV.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Branson, MO
National Avg
School District
BRANSON R-IV
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Branson sees average highs of 43.2°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 46.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.8 inches of snow per year.
Branson's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Branson roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $201,900 and median rent is $916/month.
Branson's violent crime rate is 477.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6016.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Branson are operated by BRANSON R-IV.
The district has 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 26.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Branson, MO has a population of 12,651, a median household income of $49,790, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Branson averages 43.2°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.0 inches
with about 6.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Branson, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65616.
The population of Branson, Missouri is 12,651 with a median age of 41.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Branson: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $201,900, median household income $49,790, crime index 190 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Branson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
