The Town FilesGideon, Missouri
City in New Madrid County · population 780 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $55,500
- Household income
- $41,538
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 46.3
Gideon is a city of 780 people in New Madrid County, Missouri. The median home is worth $55,500, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Missouri towns, quieter than 71% of Missouri towns.
How Gideon 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 Gideon is worth $55,500, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $41,538, which is more affordable than 98% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $489 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gideon | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $55,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $489 | $855 |
| Median household income | $41,538 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gideon
| People | Gideon | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Gideon
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gideon since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 15, 2025 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in New Madrid County since 1996
New Madrid County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in New Madrid County
New Madrid County had 7,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,792 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Gideon itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Public schools in Gideon
2 public schools with 223 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIDEON ELEM. | PK-6 | 121 | 9.3 |
| GIDEON HIGH | 7-12 | 102 | 11.3 |
Towns near Gideon
- Clarkton, MO3.5 mi · 1,009 people · home $47,000
- Holcomb, MO7.2 mi · 642 people · home $108,100
- Campbell, MO10.0 mi · 1,605 people · home $75,300
- Portageville, MO11.5 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
- Malden, MO12.0 mi · 3,706 people · home $101,300
- Parma, MO12.5 mi · 555 people · home $43,300
- Bernie, MO16.1 mi · 1,859 people · home $98,100
- Kennett, MO16.1 mi · 10,515 people · home $112,000
Gideon questions
Is Gideon, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gideon scores better for retirees than 40% of Missouri towns and quieter than 71%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Gideon?
The median owner-occupied home in Gideon is valued at $55,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,538, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $489 a month.
What is the weather like in Gideon?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 4.8 inches of snow.
Does Gideon get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gideon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 15, 2025. 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)