By Harrison Burge — Realtor® licensed in Missouri & Arkansas, U.S. Air Force Veteran, and Ozarks transplant who works with buyers making this same decision.
Is the Ozarks a good place to live?
In this article, I’ll cover five areas — crime, schools, taxes, cost of living, and freedom — that I believe make the Ozarks a great place to live.
I moved to the Ozarks from out-of-state. Bought a house with some land. I love it here.
But I’m not going to pretend like the Ozarks is perfect for everyone.
After seeing these numbers, if you’re convinced that the Ozarks is a good place to live, I can help you buy a home here, too.
Is the Ozarks a Good Place to Live for Crime?
Here’s the honest picture. Because it’s more complicated than most people expect.
The Springfield Suburbs and the Rural Areas: Safe
Most people moving to the Ozarks aren’t looking for a downtown apartment.
They’re looking for land. A small town. A suburb with room to breathe. For those people, the crime data is good.
The Springfield suburb of Nixa ranks among the top 10 safest cities in Missouri. That’s according to Safewise’s Safest Cities Report for 2026. Just east of Springfield, Rogersville was number 16 on this 2025 list.
Outside the Springfield metro area, West Plains is lower than the national average for most violent crimes. It’s also well below the national average for major property crimes (burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft).
And for Mountain Home, Arkansas, there’s more behind the headline number.
Mountain Home’s violent crime rate is well below the Arkansas state average and below the national average.
Property crime in Mountain Home, however, is above the national average.
Rural Ozarks counties are typically even safer. Neighbors know each other. People look out for each other. That’s just how small towns are.
Springfield and Branson: A More Honest Conversation
Springfield is the exception, and it deserves a straight answer.
The city has a high overall crime rate — higher than the national average for most categories of violent crimes and higher than the national average for three major areas of property crimes (burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft).
Branson looks alarming on paper, too.
Branson’s rate of theft is about 2.5 times the national average. But most of Branson’s non-violent crime happens in the tourist corridor — the strip, the retail areas, the parking lots.
The residential parts of Branson are a different story.
Locals there feel safe. The rate of violent crimes like murder and robbery are well below the national averages.
The bottom line: If you’re moving to the Ozarks’ rural areas or to the Springfield suburbs — which most people are — then you’ll likely be safe. If you’re moving to Springfield, check your neighborhood’s crime statistics.
Is the Ozarks a Good Place to Live for Schools?
This one depends, of course, a lot on where you buy.
Springfield City Schools are Average — With Some Bright Spots
Springfield Public Schools, also known as the Springfield R-XII district, overall gets a C grade on Niche — a ranking that combines U.S. Department of Education data, test scores, and user reviews.
School scores are mixed across the Springfield district.
Central High School is the top-ranked high school in the district, according to U.S. News. It ranks as the 83rd best school in Missouri by U.S. News — in part because of its International Baccalaureate (IB) program. IB is a pre-college curriculum for high school juniors and seniors that helps boost children’s critical thinking.
Kickapoo High School comes in second in the district, also according to U.S. News. It’s in the top 20% of high schools in Missouri.
And if you have a gifted child, the Phelps Center for Gifted Education is worth noting.
Phelps has served gifted students in Springfield for over 45 years. The WINGS program pulls gifted elementary students out one day a week for enrichment.
The Springfield Scholars program goes further. It’s a full-time accelerated program for highly gifted 6th through 8th graders, taught by gifted and high school faculty for high school credit. That’s rare for a public school district of any size.
So, the Springfield district average is middling. But some options inside it are better than the headline number suggests.
Springfield’s Suburbs — Home of the Area’s Best Schools
If you’re eyeing Nixa or Ozark, you’ll be pleased.
Nixa High School is the top-ranked high school in the Springfield metro area, according to U.S. News & World Report. It’s also in the top 4% of schools in all of Missouri.
Meanwhile, Ozark — another Springfield suburb that’s just east of Nixa — ranks in the top 8% of Missouri public school systems.
Further Out — West Plains and Mountain Home
West Plains’ school system posts a B grade overall from Niche — again, a website that pulls in test scores, U.S. Department of Education data, and reviews to paint the school system’s full picture.
And south of the state line in Mountain Home, Arkansas, Niche gives Mountain Home’s schools a B+ grade.
The bottom line: Springfield’s schools have mixed ratings. If Springfield is your place, then your choice of neighborhood matters. Outside of Springfield, the suburbs deliver. If schools are a priority, look at Nixa or Ozark first.
Let’s talk about finding the right home in the right school district.
Is the Ozarks a Good Place to Live for Property Taxes?
This one is easy. If you like paying sky-high property taxes, then skip the Ozarks.
Statewide, Missouri sits right at the national average of a 1% property tax rate.
But rural Ozarks counties in southern Missouri run well below that. Rural properties here can see effective property tax rates as low as 0.34%.
Arkansas frequently ranks among the 10th to 15th lowest taxed states in America. Property tax rates vary by county in Arkansas. Many Arkansas Ozarks counties are at or near the state’s property tax average.
Compare these property taxes to other areas of the country:
Texas: 1.58%. New York: 1.60%. Illinois: 2.07%. New Jersey: 2.23%.
On a $300,000 home, that gap is thousands of dollars every year. It compounds.
Also, both Missouri and Arkansas help seniors compound their wealth by letting them keep more of it. The states offer senior property tax freeze programs. Once you hit a certain age, your rate locks in. That’s a big deal on a fixed income.
The bottom line: If you’re coming from a high-tax state, your property tax bill here will feel like a rounding error.
When you’re ready to start looking, here’s how I can help.
Is the Ozarks a Good Place to Live to Save Money?
So, property taxes are low, which saves residents a lot of money compared to other areas.
But is the Ozarks a good place to live in terms of overall affordability?
Yes. Definitely. The cost of living index puts Springfield at 92 — meaning your dollar goes 8% further than the national average.
Arkansas statewide is around 90. Missouri statewide is 89.
Housing is what carries the most weight.
The kind of coastal home that costs $600,000+ costs $250,000–$350,000 here.
Electricity is anywhere from about 20% to 40% below the national average. Groceries are 5–7% cheaper. Gas is lower. Eating out costs less.
The bottom line: If you want to keep more of what you earn, the Ozarks does that better than most places in America.
Thinking about making a move to the Ozarks?
The free Relocation Starter Kit walks you through everything serious buyers need to know — which area fits your lifestyle, what your budget actually buys, what to check before you tour any property, and a step-by-step moving timeline from decision to keys in hand.
On-the-ground knowledge you won’t find in a standard relocation guide.
Is the Ozarks a Good Place to Live for Freedom?
The Cato Institute publishes a report called Freedom in the 50 States.
It measures the states’ fiscal freedom, regulatory freedom, and personal freedom.
In the latest edition, Missouri is the overall 8th freest state — scoring 15th in economic freedom and 8th in personal freedom. That puts it alongside states like New Hampshire, Nevada, and Florida. Low taxes, fewer regulations, more individual latitude.
Arkansas doesn’t score as high. But it’s not at the bottom of the list, either.
The Natural State is the 27th freest state. In economic freedom, Arkansas is number 21. But in personal freedom, it’s number 44. That said, this is a state-wide ranking. The Arkansas Ozarks is one of the freest areas of the state. Out on your land — especially out in the rural areas — you can generally do what you want.
What both states share: no income tax on Social Security. A low overall tax burden. Strong property rights. And a culture that generally stays out of your business.
The bottom line: If economic freedom and low taxes are part of why you’re considering a move, both states deliver.
So — Is the Ozarks a Good Place to Live for You?
The Ozarks isn’t for everyone.
But for the right person — someone who wants low property taxes, safe suburban and rural communities, good schools outside the city, and a cost of living that lets them keep more of what they earn — it checks more boxes than most places in America.
The question is whether it fits how you actually want to live.
Ready to take the next step
Thinking about making a move to the Ozarks? The free Relocation Starter Kit walks you through everything serious buyers need to know — which area fits your lifestyle, what your budget actually buys, what to check before you tour any property, and a step-by-step moving timeline from decision to keys in hand.
On-the-ground knowledge from a local agent — the kind you won’t find in a standard relocation guide.
Frequently Asked Questions — Ozarks Living: Is the Ozarks a Good Place to Live?
Is the Ozarks a good place to live?
Yes. In the Ozarks you get a low cost of living, low property taxes, safe suburban and rural communities, and access to the outdoors. The tradeoff is distance from major cities, limited specialist healthcare in smaller towns, and a local job market with little opportunities for white-collar workers (those in the trades fare just fine). If those tradeoffs work for your life, the Ozarks checks more boxes than most places in America.
Is the Ozarks safe to live in?
It depends on where you live. Springfield city proper has a higher crime rate, driven mostly by property crime. Of course, crime rate varies by Springfield neighborhood. The suburbs around Springfield — Nixa and Rogersville in particular — rank among the safest communities in Missouri. The rural areas are safe, too. For example, Mountain Home, Arkansas has a violent crime rate well below the national average.
What are the downsides of living in the Ozarks?
Distance from major cities, limited specialist healthcare outside the regional hubs, a small local white-collar job market, and warm, humid summers. Springfield has a crime problem in certain areas. Smaller towns have fewer dining and entertainment options. None of these are deal breakers for the right person — but they’re worth knowing before you move.
Is the Ozarks affordable?
Yes. Springfield’s cost of living index is 92 — 8% below the national average. Missouri statewide is 89. Arkansas is 90. Property taxes in both states are among the lowest in the country. Housing costs significantly less than coastal or Sun Belt markets. For anyone moving from a high cost-of-living area, the difference is immediate and substantial.
What is the Ozarks like to live in day to day?
This depends on where you are in the Ozarks. If you’re in the Springfield metro, it’s about the same as any other area of America with half a million people. But if you’re in the rural Ozarks, things are much different. The pace of life is slower. There’s more of a connection to nature, with tight-knit communities. Church is central to social life for many people here.
Is the Ozarks a good place to live for families?
It depends on which town. The suburban districts around Springfield — Nixa, Ozark, Battlefield, Willard, Republic, and Rogersville — are excellent, with Nixa High School ranking in the top 4% of schools in Missouri. In the Arkansas Ozarks, Mountain Home is a good choice with highly-ranked schools.
