Below Average CostSafer than AverageSCHOOL OF THE OSAGE
Osage Beach, MO Main Street Music Hall 01 · Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) / CC BY 2.5Greetings from Osage Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri - Large Letter Postcard · Steve Shook / CC BY 2.0
Osage Beach is a small town of 4,736 in Missouri, with a median household income of $51,600
and a 10.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Osage Beach stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Osage Beach is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Osage Beach 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: 94.5
Osage Beach's overall cost of living index is 94.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Osage Beach costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Osage Beach, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$277,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$783
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,600
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Osage Beach's violent crime rate is 264.7 per 100,000 residents
— 30% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
264.7 /100k
Property Crime
2606.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Osage Beach is served primarily by SCHOOL OF THE OSAGE.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Osage Beach, MO
National Avg
School District
SCHOOL OF THE OSAGE
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Osage Beach sees average highs of 44.0°F in January
and 89.4°F in July,
with 42.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.3 inches of snow per year.
Osage Beach's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Osage Beach roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $277,900 and median rent is $783/month.
Osage Beach's violent crime rate is 264.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2606.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Osage Beach are operated by SCHOOL OF THE OSAGE.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 22.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Osage Beach, MO has a population of 4,736, a median household income of $51,600, and an unemployment rate of 10.6%.
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.
Osage Beach averages 44.0°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.6 inches
with about 4.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Osage Beach, MO is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 65065, 65047.
The population of Osage Beach, Missouri is 4,736 with a median age of 48.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Osage Beach: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $277,900, median household income $51,600, crime index 91 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Osage Beach side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
