1st Advantage MortgageThe median Ozark County household earns $44,163, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Missouri license first.
On this page
- Ozark County at a glance
- What Ozark County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Ozark County
- Renting and owning in Ozark County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Ozark County
- Regional comparison for Ozark County
- Room for a loan payment in Ozark County
- More Ozark County figures
- Reading the Ozark County data as a borrower
- Missouri rules that apply in Ozark County
- Steps before you apply in Ozark County
- More guides for Ozark County
- Frequently asked questions
Ozark County at a glance
With an estimated 8,873 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Ozark County ranks 91st of 115 in Missouri for population. Spread over 745 square miles, that works out to roughly 11.9 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Ozark County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Gainesville is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,010 people (11% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Ozark County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Ozark County households earn
At $44,163, the typical Ozark County household income is 33% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 111th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Band | Ozark County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.0% | +14.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Ozark County households make $100,000 or more, and 38% make less than $35,000. 21.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.511 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Ozark County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Ozark County
The biggest employer of Ozark County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Ozark County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 21% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home.
| Top industries | Ozark County share | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.3% | +7.6 pts |
| Other services | 8.1% | +3.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Ozark County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $631 in Ozark County versus $1,033 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,600, about 3.8 times the median household income. 82% of Ozark County households own their home and 18% rent.
| Measure | Ozark County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $631/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,600 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Ozark County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Ozark County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Ozark County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 1,676 people, so roughly 81% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Ozark County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | city | 1,010 | $32,391 | $457 | 4 mi |
| Bakersfield | village | 188 | $37,043 | $950 | 19 mi |
| Sundown | CDP | 178 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Theodosia | village | 178 | $24,600 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Pontiac | CDP | 88 | $88,229 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wasola | CDP | 34 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Ozark County
Six nearby counties, 21 to 40 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $42,241 in Fulton County to $56,497 in Taney County; 5 of these neighbors top Ozark County's median. The list crosses into Arkansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark County | - | $44,163 | $631/mo | 82% |
| Douglas County, MO | 21 mi | $45,985 | $700/mo | 81% |
| Baxter County, AR | 26 mi | $48,452 | $846/mo | 75% |
| Marion County, AR | 29 mi | $48,619 | $795/mo | 81% |
| Taney County, MO | 32 mi | $56,497 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Howell County, MO | 33 mi | $50,993 | $733/mo | 70% |
| Fulton County, AR | 40 mi | $42,241 | $626/mo | 85% |
Room for a loan payment in Ozark County
How much room does a median Ozark County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,680 a month: gross income for a household at the Ozark County median
- Housing at the median rent of $631 uses 17%
- At 40%, room after rent is $841 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ozark County's.
More Ozark County figures
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. 13.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Ozark County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.9% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Ozark County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Reading the Ozark County data as a borrower
What the Ozark County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Ozark County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Ozark County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 51.4, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Missouri rules that apply in Ozark County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Ozark County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Ozark County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Ozark County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Ozark County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Ozark County earn?
The median is $44,163; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 38% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Ozark County?
$631 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Should Ozark County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Ozark County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Ozark County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Gainesville, Bakersfield, Sundown, Theodosia, Pontiac.
Is the fit check different in Ozark County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.