The Town FilesBolivar, Missouri
City in Polk County · population 10,679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,600
- Household income
- $49,622
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 34.1
Bolivar is a city of 10,679 people in Polk County, Missouri. The median home is worth $201,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 72% of Missouri towns.
How Bolivar 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 Bolivar is worth $201,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $49,622, which is more affordable than 6% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $812 a month. 54.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bolivar | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,600 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $812 | $855 |
| Median household income | $49,622 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Bolivar
| People | Bolivar | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Bolivar
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolivar since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 27, 2021 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 88 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 21, 2022.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 25 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 |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 9,503 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,113 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Bolivar itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Bolivar
6 public schools with 2,820 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOLIVAR HIGH | 9-12 | 831 | 13.6 |
| BOLIVAR MIDDLE | 6-8 | 595 | 12.9 |
| BOLIVAR PRIMARY | K-2 | 593 | 11.6 |
| BOLIVAR INTERMEDIATE SCH. | 3-5 | 592 | 13.2 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CNTR | PK-PK | 137 | 13.7 |
| Exceptional Pupil Coop.-ECSE | PK-PK | 72 | 3.6 |
Towns near Bolivar
- Pleasant Hope, MO12.5 mi · 657 people · home $155,600
- Walnut Grove, MO15.3 mi · 652 people · home $139,000
- Humansville, MO15.7 mi · 907 people · home $63,700
- Buffalo, MO17.7 mi · 3,290 people · home $141,800
- Fair Grove, MO21.2 mi · 1,582 people · home $214,300
- Stockton, MO21.7 mi · 1,683 people · home $140,100
- Willard, MO21.7 mi · 6,344 people · home $212,900
- Ash Grove, MO21.8 mi · 1,512 people · home $141,800
Bolivar questions
Is Bolivar, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bolivar scores better for retirees than 54% of Missouri towns and quieter than 41%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Bolivar?
The median owner-occupied home in Bolivar is valued at $201,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,622, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $812 a month.
What is the weather like in Bolivar?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 8.0 inches of snow.
Does Bolivar get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolivar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 27, 2021. 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)