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Christian County, MO

Northview

RANK #576 / 996 NAT  ·  #14 / 22 MO  ·  POP 89,568

1YR FORECAST: +0.5%

5YR OUTLOOK: +22%

Christian County's housing market is projected to grow +0.5% over the next year, below the national average.

[01] Why Christian County?

Christian County, Missouri, situated in the Ozark Mountains, offers a blend of small-town character and access to larger urban centers like Springfield and Branson. The county seat, Ozark, and the largest city, Nixa, are notable towns. Nixa's unique name is said to derive from "Nix," German slang for "nothing," combined with the "A" from an early resident's name, Nicholas A. Inman, symbolizing its origin as a crossroads. The area is characterized by rolling hills, forests, and rivers like the James and Finley, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Commuting to Springfield is common, and public transit options like OATS Transit serve the county.

Life in Christian County appeals to families and young professionals, drawn by highly-rated public schools, particularly in Nixa and Ozark. The community maintains a rural feel with low crime rates. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture and forestry, has diversified to include manufacturing in sectors such as plastics and electric motors. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure and retail, with new commercial projects underway in Ozark. The county's proximity to Springfield also provides access to healthcare and a broader job market.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
9.2x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+6.5%

Well above national median

Home Prices
+0.6%

Well below national median

Climate & Terrain
0.1

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
13x

Below national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 9.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Healthcare & Social Assistance Healthcare
    5,000+
  2. 2
    Retail Trade Retail
  3. 3
    Educational Services (Christian County Public Schools) Education
    2,500+
  4. 4
    Construction Other
  5. 5
    Manufacturing Manufacturing
  6. 6
    Other Services Other
  7. 7
    Accommodation & Food Services Hospitality
  8. 8
    Finance & Insurance Finance
  9. 9
    Transportation & Warehousing Logistics
    1,000+
  10. 10
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services Other

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Christian County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
89,568
+1.99% YoY
Median Household Income
$75,787
Median Home Value
$229,200
+0.63% 12mo
Median Rent
$937
Average Annual Pay
$44,911
+5.6% YoY
Employment
20,678
+3.8% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3307
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.09%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
31.9%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$335,750
Days on Market
57
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
2.6
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.7%
Negotiation room for buyers
Listings w/ Price Drops
27.0%
Building Permits (2024)
553
Single-Family Permits
508

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

B
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
3.4
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
18.2
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
73.6
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Below national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Capital Investment

$250M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Black Mountain Energy Storage System
Black Mountain Energy Storage
$100M Proposed
Ozark Marketplace Retail Development
Local development group
$50M Planned
CoxHealth Rehabilitation Hospital
CoxHealth
$50M Under Construction
Route CC-J-NN Cooperative Project
Christian County, Ozark Special Road District, Cities of Fremont Hills, Nixa, Ozark
$50M Planned

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[07] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +6.5% 92 percentile
Population Growth +2.0% 89 percentile
Income Growth +9.5% 73 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.6% 93 percentile
Home Price Change +0.6% 40 percentile
Rent Growth +4.9% 78 percentile
Price/Rent 13x 52 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[08] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Christian County, MO a good place to move to?

Christian County scores 42/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#576). Median household income is $75,787 and job growth is running at +3.8%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.

Is Christian County affordable?

Housing in Christian County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $229,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $937/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Christian County growing or shrinking?

Christian County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.0% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.8% clip. Home values shifted +0.6% in the past year.

Are people moving to Christian County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.09% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Christian County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[09] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Taney County, MO 36 St. Louis County, MO 34 St. Louis city, MO 32 Cape Girardeau County, MO 54 St. Francois County, MO 30 Clay County, MO 28 McKinley County, NM 42 Campbell County, VA 42