The Town FilesGolden City, Missouri
City in Barton County · population 656 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,300
- Household income
- $44,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 46.9
Golden City is a city of 656 people in Barton County, Missouri. The median home is worth $79,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Missouri towns, quieter than 85% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Missouri towns.
How Golden City 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 Golden City is worth $79,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $44,167, which is more affordable than 88% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $781 a month. 71.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Golden City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $781 | $855 |
| Median household income | $44,167 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.5% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Golden City
| People | Golden City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Golden City
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 22, 2019 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 20, 1997.
Severe weather in Barton County since 1996
Barton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: 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 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barton County
Barton County had 3,521 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,856 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Golden City itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Golden City
2 public schools with 155 students, about 7.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOLDEN CITY ELEM. | PK-5 | 79 | 7.9 |
| GOLDEN CITY HIGH | 6-12 | 76 | 7.6 |
Towns near Golden City
- Lockwood, MO7.4 mi · 846 people · home $117,700
- Jasper, MO12.1 mi · 906 people · home $126,200
- Lamar, MO12.2 mi · 4,266 people · home $117,200
- Greenfield, MO13.9 mi · 1,220 people · home $86,600
- Miller, MO18.6 mi · 704 people · home $100,400
- Alba, MO20.8 mi · 544 people · home $83,200
- Carthage, MO21.1 mi · 15,522 people · home $146,800
- Sarcoxie, MO22.5 mi · 1,406 people · home $94,100
Golden City questions
Is Golden City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Golden City scores better for retirees than 39% of Missouri towns and quieter than 85%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Golden City?
The median owner-occupied home in Golden City is valued at $79,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,167, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $781 a month.
What is the weather like in Golden City?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Golden City get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2019. 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)