1960 Magazine Ad, 1960
Golden Valley’s story
Golden Valley in pictures
Census counts: 2,619 in 1990, 8,801 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1960 and 2 maps from 1967 on.
Explore the history →
Golden ValleyAZ
Some 8,567 people live in this town, in Arizona.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Renjishino · CC BY 3.0
Population
8,567
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$240K
+2.7% in a year
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
59.2
years
Jobs based here
405
A commuter town
TownGrade
D−
Better than 4% of U.S. towns
Is Golden Valley a good place to live?
The data are hard on it. A typical home there costs about $240K, 4.2 years of the Lake Havasu City metro’s $58K median household income. With a D− overall, Golden Valley is better than 4% of U.S. towns. Its weakest is incomes — the median household income is $43K, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. 38% of residents are 65 or older in the town, where Arizona’s towns sit at 22% and U.S. towns at 18%. Among 140 Arizona towns, just 5 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Golden Valley. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 84% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. The town’s trail density is 3.0 miles per square mile, against 1.1 in Arizona’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns.
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenStreetMap.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Golden Valley for work
Where Golden Valley’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
405jobs based in Golden Valley
4%of working residents work in town
26 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Golden Valley grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arizona), ordered by how far Golden Valley is from typical.
Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentDOpen →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listDOpen →HealthWestern Arizona Regional Medical Center 19.4 miles awayC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.1 of 20; 1% of households have no carC+Open →SchoolsSchools trail most of those comparedC+Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Housing market$240K typical home, up 2.7% in a year; 91 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 59.2; 5% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Golden Valley: who provides what
Golden Valley is unincorporated, so Mohave County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerUNS Electric17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterValley Pioneers Water Company IncNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMohave CountyMohave County provides services here
SchoolsColorado River Union High School DistrictKingman Unified School District2 districts serve Golden Valley; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Arizona you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMohave County RecorderMohave County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8641386413 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Golden Valley.
Golden Valley has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns and is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it has poverty well above the Arizona rate.
OutdoorsC+
3.7% of Golden Valley is conserved land
Golden Valley’s trail density is 3.0 miles per square mile. Walkers can cover 238 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves locally: 2, covering 13 acres.
#14for trails in AZ
| Golden Valley | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 3.0 miles per square mile | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.7% | 15% | 4.3% |
3.7%
conserved · 1,881 of 50,182 acres
238 mi
of trails · 3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Veterans Park | — | 9 |
| 2. Mount Nutt Wilderness | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC+
On state tests, Golden Valley’s schools trail 62% of Arizona districts
The Kingman Unified School District runs its public schools. Its one school is below. Golden Valley’s only public school teaches 474 students.
38%of AZ districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mountain Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 474 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AZ on state tests and graduation
HealthC−
Golden Valley is less healthy than four in five U.S. towns
Against the 3,209 U.S. towns with household incomes like Golden Valley’s, it is healthier than 59%, so its C− isn’t only a matter of income.
Only 6 of the 140 Arizona towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Golden Valley. This Arizona town does better than the Arizona average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 19. 21% of Golden Valley adults smoke cigarettes.
16%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Golden Valley | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 36% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Arizona
2 better11 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Golden Valley | AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.7% | 15.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.7% | 73.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 15.6% | 6.6% |
Western Arizona Regional Medical Center
19.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
12th
percentile among AZ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C+
Golden Valley earns a C+ for cost of living
Values rose 2.7% in the past year while the Arizona typical home fell 1%. The median property tax bill is $658, against $1,879 across Arizona, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The share of households in Golden Valley who are owner-occupiers: 92%. Homes here are typically worth about $240,000, 42% below the Arizona typical home. A home in Golden Valley typically sold within 91 days of listing.
$240KZillow home value
| Golden Valley | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 92% | 76% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,134 a month | $1,206 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Golden Valley$240K
Arizona$417K
Market temperature
91
days on market
96.4%
sale-to-list price
+2.7%
value change, 1 year
6
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
The biggest natural risk in Golden Valley is inland flooding, at a very high overall level
51% of Golden Valley’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by wildfires at 39%. One claim on flood insurance has been paid out here since 2022.
84risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfireHeat waves
1
paid flood claims since 2022
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
For most of its workers, the job is outside Golden Valley
Golden Valley has 405 jobs for its 2,768 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here fell from 969 in 2013 to 405.
Jobs based in Golden Valley fell to 405 in 2023, 564 fewer than in 2013. For most workers, Golden Valley is a place to come home to: only 4% work in town. Among 140 Arizona towns, just 5 have a lower middle household income than Golden Valley. Also worth knowing: 7.3% of workers do their job from home here.
4%work in town
| Golden Valley | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 24% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $43,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 12% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.9% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Golden Valley4%
Kingman22%
Phoenix9%
Laughlin6%
Bullhead City4%
26 mi
median commute distance
405
jobs based in Golden Valley
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 37% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
The climate in Golden Valley brings mild winters and hot summers
The Yucca 1 Nne weather station, 23 miles away, records that about 150 days a year reach 90°, more than in 99% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 100.9°, hotter than in 99% of U.S. towns; January nights average 37.6°.
The town’s typical July afternoon high comes in at 101°F. Snowfall is close to zero.
101°summer high
| Golden Valley | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 101°F | 100°F | 85°F |
| January low | 38°F | 36°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter38–60°
Spring51–78°
Summer71–99°
Fall54–81°
Dec 2
typical first frost
Feb 18
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
101°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Nearby attractions
All 7 attractions →Lake Mead National Recreation Area and 2 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Golden Valley. Close and well known come first.
16 mi National Recreation AreaLake Mead National Recreation Area6.1M visitors a year
10 mi MuseumBonelli House
10 mi MuseumMohave Museum of History and ArtsSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Andrew Cattoir, Public domain · Bonelli House: Rayc, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mohave Museum of History and Arts: NearEMPTiness, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Golden Valley
17pages on Golden Valley
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Golden Valley
About 2 of every 100 Golden Valley residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Arizona.
About Golden Valley
CDP in Mohave County, Arizona
Golden Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) and Unincorporated community in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, located halfway between Kingman and Bullhead City. The population was 8,801 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 7,942 in 2025.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 79 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,805 ft
- ZIP code
- 86413
- Area code
- 928
Golden Valley’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Golden Valley.
McConnicoSo-HiGolden Valley
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AZ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley | #138 | D− | C+ | — | C+ | C− |
| McConnico | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| So-Hi | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Golden Valley reports no FBI crime data of its own. McConnico and So-Hi aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Golden Valley with a neighbor →
Questions about Golden Valley
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Golden Valley, AZ a good place to live?
Golden Valley grades D− overall, better than 4% of U.S. towns. It grades C− for health and C+ for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Golden Valley, AZ expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.