The Town FilesCalifornia, Missouri
City in Moniteau County · population 4,498 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,700
- Household income
- $63,864
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 38.9
California is a city of 4,498 people in Moniteau County, Missouri. The median home is worth $152,700, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 80% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 79% of Missouri towns.
How California 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 California is worth $152,700, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $63,864, which is more affordable than 70% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $756 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | California | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $756 | $855 |
| Median household income | $63,864 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in California
| People | California | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 88.7% |
Weather in California
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of California since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 12, 1980 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Moniteau County since 1996
Moniteau County has been included in 23 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 |
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Moniteau County
Moniteau County had 4,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,661 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in California itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in California
3 public schools with 1,354 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALIFORNIA ELEM. | PK-4 | 492 | 11.2 |
| CALIFORNIA HIGH | 9-12 | 446 | 13.9 |
| CALIFORNIA MIDDLE | 5-8 | 416 | 13.0 |
Towns near California
- Tipton, MO11.7 mi · 2,920 people · home $130,200
- Eldon, MO19.3 mi · 4,416 people · home $157,400
- Versailles, MO20.3 mi · 2,539 people · home $117,500
- Jefferson City, MO21.6 mi · 43,228 people · home $218,700
- Ashland, MO21.7 mi · 4,747 people · home $258,500
- Holts Summit, MO24.5 mi · 4,458 people · home $191,900
- Boonville, MO24.8 mi · 7,964 people · home $187,900
- Columbia, MO25.5 mi · 126,254 people · home $284,600
California questions
Is California, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, California scores better for retirees than 36% of Missouri towns and quieter than 18%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in California?
The median owner-occupied home in California is valued at $152,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,864, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $756 a month.
What is the weather like in California?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 9.7 inches of snow.
Does California get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of California since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 12, 1980. 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)