The Town FilesRockaway Beach, Missouri
City in Taney County · population 829 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,000
- Household income
- $63,646
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 49.2
Rockaway Beach is a city of 829 people in Taney County, Missouri. The median home is worth $181,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 89% of Missouri towns, hipper than 74% of Missouri towns.
How Rockaway Beach 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 Rockaway Beach is worth $181,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $63,646, which is more affordable than 47% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $696 a month. 79.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockaway Beach | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $696 | $855 |
| Median household income | $63,646 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 79.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.0% | — |
Who lives in Rockaway Beach
| People | Rockaway Beach | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Rockaway Beach
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 24.2°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockaway Beach since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 29, 2012 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 103 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 2020.
Severe weather in Taney County since 1996
Taney County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 Taney County
Taney County had 28,634 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,907 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Rockaway Beach itself the ACS puts it at 11.1%.
Towns near Rockaway Beach
- Merriam Woods, MO1.5 mi · 2,006 people · home $116,400
- Forsyth, MO3.3 mi · 2,730 people · home $192,600
- Kissee Mills, MO6.4 mi · 1,023 people · home $163,300
- Hollister, MO7.8 mi · 4,583 people · home $163,600
- Branson, MO9.7 mi · 12,638 people · home $251,000
- Indian Point, MO11.1 mi · 550 people · home $317,400
- Reeds Spring, MO12.6 mi · 1,136 people · home $185,400
- Kimberling City, MO15.2 mi · 2,344 people · home $246,500
Rockaway Beach questions
Is Rockaway Beach, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockaway Beach scores better for retirees than 54% of Missouri towns and quieter than 39%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.2).
How much does a house cost in Rockaway Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockaway Beach is valued at $181,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,646, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $696 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockaway Beach?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 24.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.8 inches of snow.
Does Rockaway Beach get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockaway Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 29, 2012. 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)