City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Branson, MO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Branson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

12,760
Residents
$54,961
Median income
$237,900
Median home
$923
Median rent (state)

Branson - the verdict

Nationally, Branson sits in the 27th percentile for household income and the 2nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
53rd
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
2nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Branson, MO

Missouri's Branson is a small town, with 12,760 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Branson households earn a median of $54,961 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.8%. Home values in Branson run a median of $237,900, and the median resident age is 38.2 years. About 29.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 100 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Growing), up 6% from five years earlier. Branson's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 6493.6 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 57.5°F with 48.3 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Missouri at 90.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $923 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $219 across Missouri, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 76.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

12,760 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$54,961 /yr

Poverty 13.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Branson compare to other US cities?

Here's how Branson stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 53% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities
Safety 2% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Missouri and the picture shifts: Branson ranks #226 of 234 Missouri cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Branson's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Missouri, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

27thIncome percentile
2ndSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 2nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Branson's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Branson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 33 Avg. percentile National median
Branson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Branson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$237,900 47th percentile more affordable than 47% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Branson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Branson, MO Branson, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Branson, MO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Branson, MO median $54,961/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Branson, MO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Branson, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
12,760
Median Income
$54,961
Median Home Value
$237,900
Median Age
38.2
Poverty Rate
13.8%
Labor force participation
57.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
6493.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
477.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
6016.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.5°F
Annual Precipitation
48.3"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,600 residents12,700 residents12,800 residents12,900 residents13,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,649 residents 12,921 residents ▲ +2.2%
Branson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
100
housing units authorized
Single-Family
50
detached homes
Multifamily
50
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 94
2020 123
2021 176
2022 99
2023 92
2024 100

Permit volume increased 6% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.7%
Carpool
12.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
11.4%
Other
1.1%

Based on 6,130 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Missouri - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Branson sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$923/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
76.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Neosho
12,857 people
St. Ann
12,865 people
Jennings
12,900 people
Fulton
12,611 people
Union
12,560 people
Festus
12,965 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Branson's 12,760 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Woodhaven, MI
12,761 people
Emeryville, CA
12,756 people
Gonzales, LA
12,748 people
Greenville, OH
12,748 people
Sandy, OR
12,738 people
Manorville, NY
12,737 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Branson's $54,961 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Covington, IN
$54,962 median income
Seneca Knolls, NY
$54,963 median income
Independence, WI
$54,967 median income
Streator, IL
$54,953 median income
Eagle Pass, TX
$54,952 median income
La Pine, OR
$54,946 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Branson, MO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Branson, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.4% 8.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.4% White 81.4% Black or African American 4.6% Asian 3.3% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 8.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Branson compares to nearby Missouri cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Branson (this city) 12,760 $54,961
Neosho 12,857 $55,159
St. Ann 12,865 $52,059
Jennings 12,900 $37,356
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Branson, MO?

What is the population of Branson, MO? +

Branson, MO has a population of 12,760 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Branson, MO? +

Branson households earn a median of $54,961 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Branson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Branson; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

Is Branson, MO safe? +

Branson has a total crime rate of 6493.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Branson, MO? +

The median home value in Branson is $237,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Branson? +

The average annual temperature in Branson runs 57.5°F, 48.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.