The Town FilesGoose Creek Lake, Missouri
Community in St. Francois County · population 524 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $132,900
- Household income
- $37,986
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 64.4
Goose Creek Lake is a community of 524 people in St. Francois County, Missouri. The median home is worth $132,900, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Missouri towns, quieter than 95% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 76% of Missouri towns.
How Goose Creek Lake 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 Goose Creek Lake is worth $132,900, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $37,986, which is more affordable than 19% of Missouri towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Goose Creek Lake | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | — | $855 |
| Median household income | $37,986 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 72.9% | — |
Who lives in Goose Creek Lake
| People | Goose Creek Lake | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.4 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 1.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 24.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | — min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 49.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Goose Creek Lake
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Goose Creek Lake since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 11, 2006 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 30, 2025.
Severe weather in St. Francois County since 1996
St. Francois County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Francois County
St. Francois County had 23,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,743 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Goose Creek Lake itself the ACS puts it at 27.1%.
Towns near Goose Creek Lake
- Bloomsdale, MO6.5 mi · 639 people · home $244,000
- Lake Timberline, MO11.9 mi · 726 people · home $117,300
- Bonne Terre, MO12.2 mi · 6,903 people · home $153,000
- Desloge, MO12.5 mi · 4,823 people · home $127,500
- Olympian Village, MO12.7 mi · 719 people · home $157,000
- Leadington, MO12.9 mi · 764 people · home $169,600
- Park Hills, MO14.5 mi · 8,587 people · home $131,300
- Prairie du Rocher, IL14.5 mi · 502 people · home $88,800
Goose Creek Lake questions
Is Goose Creek Lake, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Goose Creek Lake scores better for retirees than 76% of Missouri towns and quieter than 95%. 45.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.4).
How much does a house cost in Goose Creek Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Goose Creek Lake is valued at $132,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,986, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Goose Creek Lake?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 8.3 inches of snow.
Does Goose Creek Lake get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Goose Creek Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 11, 2006. 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)