Introduction

Bolivar is proud to offer a fully integrated rural healthcare system known as Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation and Citizens Memorial Hospital. CMH and Foundation is the largest employer in the city with over 2,000 employees. Polk County can boast of its low cost of living, as it is part of the Springfield Metro Statistical Area, and according to the Council for Community & Economic Research, the Springfield Metro area had a cost of living index at 86.0 for 2022. The state of Missouri had the 6th lowest cost of living in the U.S. in 2022 with 89.1.

Income Demographics

2021 Median Household Income (Bolivar)

Average Annual Wage:

$37,234

Average Hourly Wage:

$18.62

2021 Median Household Income (Polk County)

Average Annual Wage:

$50,890

Average Hourly Wage:

$25.45

*These figures are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. This survey is updated every year. These wages represent an average for all industries, both public and private.
Average Hourly Wage is calculated by dividing Total Wages by Average Employment by 2,000 hours (50 weeks x 40 hours) across all industries.
Average Annual Wage is calculated by dividing Total Wages by Average Employment across all industries.

Major Polk County Employers

COMPANY

EMPLOYEES

Citizens Memorial Hospital

2,250

Tracker/White River Marine

500

Walmart Supercenter

360

Bolivar R-1 Schools

340

Southwest Baptist University

320

Duck Creek Technologies

250

Flora Farms

200

Missouri Prime Beef

200

Woods Supermarket

183

City Of Bolivar

101

Polk County

82

Bank Of Missouri

73

Southwest Electric Coop

50

Liberty Utilities

25

Other Data

Climate

Temperature (Daily Average): January 40°F, July 80°F

Annual Average Rainfall: 45 inches

Average Snowfall: 15.7 inches

Elevation: 1092’MSL (mean sea level)

Cost of Living Index: 88.3% (1st quarter, 2020)

Cost of Housing in Polk County (2021)

Average Housing Value: $146,000

Average Monthly Rent: $715

Bolivar New Housing Starts (2017)

Single Dwellings: 23

Duplexes: 3

Multi-Unit Apartments: 0

Total New Housing: 26

Building Permits in Bolivar (2017)
Commercial – New/Renovation: 24

Residential – New/Renovation: 41

Total Cost of Commercial Permits: $7,607,078

Total Cost of Residential Permits: $3,687,085