The Town FilesGolden Valley, Arizona
Community in Mohave County · population 8,801 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,000
- Household income
- $42,585
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 99°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 59.2
Golden Valley is a community of 8,801 people in Mohave County, Arizona. The median home is worth $176,000, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks quieter than 93% of Arizona towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Arizona towns.
How Golden Valley ranks
Percentile among Arizona towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arizona towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Golden Valley is worth $176,000, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $42,585, which is more affordable than 49% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,134 a month. 92.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Golden Valley | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,000 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,134 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $42,585 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 92.0% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Golden Valley
| People | Golden Valley | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.2 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.8% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.9% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 15.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Golden Valley
July highs average 98.7°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 8.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 113 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden Valley since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an F0, struck on November 22, 1996 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 22, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 4, 2009.
Severe weather in Mohave County since 1996
Mohave County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| August 9, 2015 | Fire | FM-5095: Willow Fire |
| July 2, 2013 | Fire | FM-5033: Dean Peak Fire |
| March 18, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1888: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mohave County
Mohave County had 56,391 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,199 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Golden Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Golden Valley
1 public school with 513 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mountain Elementary School | K-8 | 513 | 18.3 |
Towns near Golden Valley
- Kingman, AZ12.6 mi · 32,689 people · home $267,700
- New Kingman-Butler, AZ13.3 mi · 12,907 people · home $118,900
- Bullhead City, AZ19.0 mi · 41,348 people · home $211,500
- Laughlin, NV22.1 mi · 8,658 people · home $283,700
- Fort Mohave, AZ24.0 mi · 16,190 people · home $294,300
- Mohave Valley, AZ28.4 mi · 2,693 people · home $256,900
Golden Valley questions
Is Golden Valley, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Golden Valley scores better for retirees than 53% of Arizona towns and quieter than 93%. 37.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.2).
How much does a house cost in Golden Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Golden Valley is valued at $176,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,585, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,134 a month.
What is the weather like in Golden Valley?
July highs average 98.7°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Golden Valley get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on November 22, 1996. The typical Arizona town has had 1.
- 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)