The Town FilesBranson, Missouri
City in Taney County · population 12,638 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $251,000
- Household income
- $51,978
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 39.3
Branson is a city of 12,638 people in Taney County, Missouri. The median home is worth $251,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 80% of Missouri towns.
How Branson ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Branson is worth $251,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $51,978, which is more affordable than 3% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $961 a month. 48.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Branson | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $251,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $961 | $855 |
| Median household income | $51,978 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 31.7% | — |
Who lives in Branson
| People | Branson | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Branson
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.9 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Branson since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 29, 2012 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 138 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 2020.
Severe weather in Taney County since 1996
Taney County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Taney County
Taney County had 28,634 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,907 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Branson itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Branson
8 public schools with 4,679 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRANSON HIGH | 9-12 | 1,439 | 16.2 |
| BRANSON JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 740 | 15.4 |
| BUCHANAN ELEMENTARY | K-3 | 606 | 13.8 |
| CEDAR RIDGE ELEMENTARY | 1-3 | 494 | 12.7 |
| CEDAR RIDGE INTERMEDIATE | 4-6 | 479 | 13.7 |
| BUCHANAN INTERMEDIATE | 4-6 | 479 | 15.0 |
| CEDAR RIDGE PRIMARY | PK-K | 381 | 11.2 |
| TRI LAKES SPECIAL SERV CO-OP | PK-12 | 61 | 4.1 |
Towns near Branson
- Hollister, MO3.3 mi · 4,583 people · home $163,600
- Forsyth, MO11.6 mi · 2,730 people · home $192,600
- Green Forest, AR20.7 mi · 2,972 people · home $143,200
- Berryville, AR22.7 mi · 5,682 people · home $165,400
- Holiday Island, AR26.2 mi · 2,533 people · home $227,100
- Harrison, AR27.3 mi · 13,069 people · home $169,600
- Ozark, MO29.4 mi · 21,284 people · home $254,800
- Nixa, MO29.9 mi · 23,257 people · home $258,700
Branson questions
Is Branson, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Branson scores better for retirees than 51% of Missouri towns and quieter than 46%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Branson?
The median owner-occupied home in Branson is valued at $251,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,978, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $961 a month.
What is the weather like in Branson?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 6.9 inches of snow.
Does Branson get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Branson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 29, 2012. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)