The Town FilesGolden Valley, Minnesota
City in Hennepin County · population 22,552 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $431,400
- Household income
- $108,772
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 44.2
Golden Valley is a city of 22,552 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $431,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 97% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 96% of Minnesota towns.
How Golden Valley ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Golden Valley is worth $431,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $108,772, which is more affordable than 23% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,785 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Golden Valley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $431,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,785 | $991 |
| Median household income | $108,772 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Golden Valley
| People | Golden Valley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 29.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Golden Valley
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden Valley since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 479 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 266 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 11, 1963.
Severe weather in Hennepin County since 1996
Hennepin County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hennepin County
Hennepin County had 917,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,157 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Golden Valley itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Golden Valley
9 public schools with 2,434 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 777 | 14.9 |
| SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING-ARTS AT OLSON | K-5 | 438 | 16.2 |
| Sandburg Middle School | 6-8 | 331 | 13.2 |
| NOBLE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 260 | 10.0 |
| HIGHVIEW ALC | 9-12 | 224 | 18.7 |
| Robbinsdale Virtual Academy | 6-12 | 186 | 16.9 |
| PERPICH CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION | 11-12 | 144 | 7.6 |
| Notre Ecole Academy (charter) | K-4 | 63 | 12.6 |
| Robbinsdale Virtual Academy K-5 | K-5 | 11 | 5.5 |
Towns near Golden Valley
- Robbinsdale, MN2.7 mi · 14,646 people · home $295,600
- St. Louis Park, MN2.9 mi · 50,010 people · home $386,800
- Crystal, MN3.3 mi · 23,330 people · home $296,100
- New Hope, MN3.4 mi · 21,986 people · home $337,000
- Minneapolis, MN4.8 mi · 429,954 people · home $362,200
- Hopkins, MN5.0 mi · 19,079 people · home $375,600
- Plymouth, MN5.5 mi · 81,026 people · home $491,200
- Brooklyn Center, MN5.7 mi · 33,782 people · home $274,300
Golden Valley questions
Is Golden Valley, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Golden Valley scores better for retirees than 92% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 14%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Golden Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Golden Valley is valued at $431,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,772, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,785 a month.
What is the weather like in Golden Valley?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 54.3 inches of snow.
Does Golden Valley get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)