The Town FilesMalden, Missouri
City in Dunklin County · population 3,706 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,300
- Household income
- $40,118
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.7
Malden is a city of 3,706 people in Dunklin County, Missouri. The median home is worth $101,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Missouri towns, better transit than 83% of Missouri towns.
How Malden 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 Malden is worth $101,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $40,118, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $673 a month. 51.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Malden | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $673 | $855 |
| Median household income | $40,118 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Malden
| People | Malden | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Malden
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Malden since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 22, 1981 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 10, 1973.
Severe weather in Dunklin County since 1996
Dunklin County has been included in 22 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 |
| January 10, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4636: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dunklin County
Dunklin County had 9,137 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,543 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Malden itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in Malden
2 public schools with 841 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MALDEN LOWER ELEM. | PK-5 | 449 | 12.5 |
| MALDEN HIGH | 6-12 | 392 | 10.3 |
Towns near Malden
- Dexter, MO13.4 mi · 7,927 people · home $137,200
- Piggott, AR18.5 mi · 3,622 people · home $115,500
- Portageville, MO20.4 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
- New Madrid, MO24.8 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Kennett, MO25.1 mi · 10,515 people · home $112,000
- Poplar Bluff, MO25.7 mi · 16,225 people · home $119,800
- Sikeston, MO30.0 mi · 16,291 people · home $168,800
Malden questions
Is Malden, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Malden scores better for retirees than 24% of Missouri towns and quieter than 23%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Malden?
The median owner-occupied home in Malden is valued at $101,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,118, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $673 a month.
What is the weather like in Malden?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Malden get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Malden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 22, 1981. 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)