The Town FilesLake Ozark, Missouri
City in Miller County · population 2,077 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $278,100
- Household income
- $74,176
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.1
Lake Ozark is a city of 2,077 people in Miller County, Missouri. The median home is worth $278,100, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 78% of Missouri towns, quieter than 75% of Missouri towns.
How Lake Ozark 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 Lake Ozark is worth $278,100, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $74,176, which is more affordable than 12% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,304 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Ozark | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,100 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,304 | $855 |
| Median household income | $74,176 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.6% | — |
Who lives in Lake Ozark
| People | Lake Ozark | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Lake Ozark
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 25.3°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Ozark since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 9, 1970 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 12, 2011.
Severe weather in Miller County since 1996
Miller County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: 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 Miller County
Miller County had 8,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,073 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Lake Ozark itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Lake Ozark
2 public schools with 499 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HERITAGE ELEMENTARY | K-2 | 396 | 12.0 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | PK-PK | 103 | 14.7 |
Towns near Lake Ozark
- Village of Four Seasons, MO4.5 mi · 2,383 people · home $365,400
- Osage Beach, MO4.6 mi · 4,637 people · home $355,200
- Laurie, MO10.6 mi · 939 people · home $187,200
- Eldon, MO10.8 mi · 4,416 people · home $157,400
- Camdenton, MO14.5 mi · 3,960 people · home $175,500
- Iberia, MO19.7 mi · 703 people · home $122,900
- Versailles, MO19.9 mi · 2,539 people · home $117,500
- Russellville, MO23.9 mi · 778 people · home $166,500
Lake Ozark questions
Is Lake Ozark, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Ozark scores better for retirees than 78% of Missouri towns and quieter than 75%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Ozark?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Ozark is valued at $278,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,176, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,304 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Ozark?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 25.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Lake Ozark get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Ozark since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 9, 1970. 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)