The Town FilesHolden, Missouri
City in Johnson County · population 2,210 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,200
- Household income
- $63,056
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 42.9
Holden is a city of 2,210 people in Johnson County, Missouri. The median home is worth $148,200, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Missouri towns.
How Holden 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 Holden is worth $148,200, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $63,056, which is more affordable than 70% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $809 a month. 63.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Holden | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $809 | $855 |
| Median household income | $63,056 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Holden
| People | Holden | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Holden
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 42.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holden since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 4, 1969 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 8, 2015.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 3, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3317: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 16,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,500 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Holden itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Holden
3 public schools with 1,195 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOLDEN ELEM. | PK-5 | 530 | 14.7 |
| HOLDEN HIGH | 9-12 | 385 | 14.3 |
| HOLDEN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 280 | 13.3 |
Towns near Holden
- Warrensburg, MO14.6 mi · 19,337 people · home $222,200
- Lone Jack, MO15.2 mi · 1,492 people · home $330,100
- Garden City, MO15.3 mi · 1,629 people · home $176,200
- Pleasant Hill, MO16.5 mi · 8,777 people · home $278,400
- Leeton, MO18.2 mi · 532 people · home $99,600
- Lake Lotawana, MO19.6 mi · 2,310 people · home $564,100
- Odessa, MO19.8 mi · 5,593 people · home $238,200
- Harrisonville, MO20.0 mi · 10,121 people · home $209,200
Holden questions
Is Holden, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Holden scores better for retirees than 30% of Missouri towns and quieter than 69%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Holden?
The median owner-occupied home in Holden is valued at $148,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,056, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $809 a month.
What is the weather like in Holden?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.9 inches of precipitation a year and 14.6 inches of snow.
Does Holden get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 4, 1969. 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)