Hurricane Deck Bridge, 1939, 1939
Camdenton’s story
96 years in pictures
Census counts: 893 in 1940, 3,960 in 2020. The archive holds 14 old photos and papers going back to 1939 and a map from 1983 on.
- 1930Camdenton is settled
Photo: Paul Sableman from St. Louis, MO · CC BY 2.0
Population
4,050
2025 Census estimate · +2% since 2020
Typical home
$310K
−2.4% in a year
Household income
$54K
median
Median age
30.6
years
Jobs based here
3,363
A job hub
TownGrade
C−
#180 of 247 in MO
Is Camdenton a good place to live?
Camdenton gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $310K for a typical one, or 4.7 years of the county’s $66K median household income. It grades C− overall, ranked 180th of 247 in Missouri. The low prices come with trade-offs. Residents are less healthy than 89% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates, and it reports more crime per resident than 82% of U.S. towns, including 8 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. On the plus side, it is more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns. On history, just 30 of Missouri’s 419 towns do worse. Camdenton’s average trip to work is 17 minutes, below both the Missouri town median (22 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). The biggest park or preserve is Camdenton City Park, at 66 acres.
What makes Camdenton stand out
Where Camdenton beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here3,363
Residents who work1,543
Work
2.2 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 95% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
4.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
CAMDENTON R-III schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Dogwood Elementary | PK–2 | 592 |
| Hawthorn Elementary | 3–4 | 405 |
| Camdenton Middle | 7–8 | 599 |
SchoolsB+
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A job hub
Every workday, about 3,075 people come to Camdenton for work
Where Camdenton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,363jobs based in Camdenton
19%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Camdenton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Missouri), ordered by how far Camdenton is from typical.
HealthLake Regional Health System 8.2 miles awayDOpen →SafetyC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.9 of 20; 2.6% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & income$54K median household incomeC−Open →SchoolsB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Cost of livingBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 1% conserved landCOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life3.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$310K typical home, down 2.4% in a year–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 30.6; 12% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Camdenton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Camdenton, and how to reach them.
PowerLaclede Electric Coop12.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCamdenton PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpFrom the town’s siteTrash and recycling rulesTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCamdenCamden County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6502065020 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Camdenton.
Camdenton draws workers from Osage Beach and beyond, has home values falling while Missouri’s rise and has seen reported crime fall by a third or more.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
About one in five working residents works right in Camdenton
3,363 jobs are based in Camdenton, 2.2 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 17 minutes, against 23.5 across Missouri.
Most working residents leave Camdenton for work: only 19% work in town. Jobs based in Camdenton grew to 3,363 in 2023, 1,192 more than in 2013. 15% of Camdenton residents live below the poverty line.
19%work in town
| Camdenton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 19% | 13% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $54,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Camdenton19%
Osage Beach17%
Jefferson City5%
Springfield4%
Lake Ozark3%
13 mi
median commute distance
3,363
jobs based in Camdenton
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Camdenton beat 70% of Missouri districts
Its public schools are run by Camdenton R-III. Three of its 7 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Camdenton High, with 1,285 students.
70%of MO districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camdenton MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 599 | B+ |
| Camdenton HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,285 | B |
| Oak Ridge IntermediateTop results in townGrades 5–6 | Grades 5–6 | 569 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state tests and graduation
HealthD
Camdenton earns a D for health
21% of adults smoke cigarettes in Camdenton. Camdenton beats the Missouri average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 16. 35% of adults get no exercise outside work in Camdenton.
11%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Camdenton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 30% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 19% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better16 too close to call16 worse
| What stands out | Camdenton | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 23.6% | 15.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.7% | 8% |
| More smokers | 21.3% | 16% |
Lake Regional Health System
8.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
25th
percentile among MO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyC−
Camdenton earns a C− for safety
Reported crimes fell from 144 to 93 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Camdenton’s property crime rate is 21 per 1,000 residents. Camdenton reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 82% report less.
18%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Camdenton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 21 per 1,000 residents | 12.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Camdenton2
Missouri4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Camdenton21
Missouri16.9
U.S.15.5
18th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
27th
percentile among MO towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
85
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Camdenton has mild winters and hot summers
Camdenton has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Camdenton is 89°F.
4″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–46°
Spring45–67°
Summer66–87°
Fall46–69°
Nov 3
typical first frost
Mar 31
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
#112for trails in MO
| Camdenton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.8% | 2.1% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
0.8%
conserved · 29 of 3,631 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Camdenton City Park | — | 66 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade B
Camdenton earns a B for cost of living
Values fell 2.4% in the past year while the Missouri typical home rose 3.4%. At about $310K, home values are up 7% in five years, against a rise of 26% across Missouri.
The typical Camdenton home is worth about $310,000, 17% above the Missouri typical home.
$310KZillow home value
| Camdenton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 58% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,025 a month | $970 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Camdenton$310K
Missouri$265K
−2.4%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Camdenton
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities. Since 2019, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Camdenton.
61risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2019
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Camdenton
19pages on Camdenton
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 70% of MO districts · 7 schoolsSafetyC−2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than MO on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$310K typical home · down 2.4% in a yearWork & commuteC−$54K median household income · 3,363 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 61% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Camdenton; the nearest are
Bolivar Technical CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Bolivar45.4 mi$28,390 tuitionLincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Jefferson City49.6 mi$9,796 in-state tuitionState Fair Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sedalia54.9 mi$4,176 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Camdenton residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Missouri.
About Camdenton
City in Missouri, U.S.
Camdenton is a city in and the county seat of Camden County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, Camdenton had a population of 3,960. The city is enveloped by the Lower Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, and serves as a popular trade point for visitors to the area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1930
- Area
- 5.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,043 ft
- ZIP code
- 65020
- Area code
- 573
Questions about Camdenton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Camdenton, MO a good place to live?
Camdenton grades C− overall, better than 22% of U.S. towns and #180 of 247 in Missouri. It grades D for health, C− for safety and B+ for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Camdenton, MO expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.