MOMap-doton-Gower, 2004
Gower’s story
146 years in pictures
Census counts: 163 in 1880, 1,533 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1925 on.
- 1880Gower is settled
GowerMO
A town of 1,514, settled in 1880. Public schools that outperform most of Missouri.
Population
1,514
2025 Census estimate · −1.2% since 2020
Typical home
$319K
+5.4% in a year
Household income
$84K
median
Median age
33.0
years
Jobs based here
323
A commuter town
Is Gower a good place to live?
Gower’s best subject grades are an A− for schools, cost of living, and civic life. 33% of residents are under 18 in Gower, where Missouri’s towns sit at 23% and U.S. towns at 22%. Among 180 Missouri towns, just one has a lower property crime rate than Gower. Gower has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Gower stand out
Where Gower beats most towns.
EAST BUCHANAN CO. C-1 (025076) schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| East Buchanan Elem. | PK–5 | 267 |
| East Buchanan High | 9–12 | 255 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Gower6.7
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical MO town3.8
Civic lifeA−
77% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Missouri town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Typical home value
Gower$319K
Missouri$265K
Cost of livingA−
3.8 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 77% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Gower for work
Where Gower’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
323jobs based in Gower
7%of working residents work in town
26 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Gower grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Missouri), ordered by how far Gower is from typical.
SchoolsA−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 4% of households have no car; 2.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →HealthMosaic Life Care at St. Joseph 14.3 miles awayC+Open →Jobs & income$84K median household incomeB−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.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Gower: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Gower, and how to reach them.
PowerUnion Electric13.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGower PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Gower’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereClintonClinton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6445464454 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Gower.
SchoolsA−
Gower’s public schools outperform 82% of Missouri districts
The public schools here belong to the East Buchanan Co. C-1 school district. Its two schools are below. 2 public schools serve Gower, with 522 students in all.
82%of MO districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Buchanan Elem.Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 267 | B+ |
| East Buchanan HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 255 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of Gower’s workers commute out
The top destinations are Kansas City (19%), St. Joseph (18%) and Smithville (4%). Only 7% of working residents stay in Gower for work; the rest commute out. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs here rose by 31, to 323. Its average trip to work is 29 minutes, above both Missouri’s towns (22 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes).
7%work in town
| Gower | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 9% | 11% |
| Median household income | $84,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7% | 13% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Gower7%
Kansas City19%
St. Joseph18%
Smithville4%
Liberty4%
26 mi
median commute distance
323
jobs based in Gower
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 64% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
More children than Missouri overall
The midpoint age in Gower is 33 years. The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 33%, against 32% across Missouri. Gower: 17% of residents are 65 or older.
33median age · MO 39
| Gower | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33 years | 38.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 17% | 18% |
GowerMissouriUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school35%
Some college24%
Associate’s5%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.6 points. Across Missouri, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Gower | MO | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 20.1% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.3% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.9% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.1% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.2% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 5.5% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.7% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.3% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.9% | 8.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 35% | 30.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.5% | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5.3% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.7% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.6% | 12.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,500, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Gower’s year
The range runs from 18° on a January night to 88° on a July afternoon, with about 18 inches of snow a winter.
18″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–41°
Spring43–65°
Summer65–86°
Fall44–66°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade A−
A typical Gower home is worth about $319K
Home values are up 5.4% over the year to September 2026. In Gower, 85% of households are owner-occupiers. Also worth knowing: on the market here: a median 22 days to sell.
$319KZillow home value
| Gower | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 85% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $926 a month | $971 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Gower$319K
Missouri$265K
Market temperature
22
days on market
+5.4%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Safety
Gower stands out in Missouri and nationally, with violent crime lower than most
Gower's reported crime rate is well below Missouri's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Police in Gower reported no violent crime.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Gower0
Missouri5
U.S.4
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Gower2.6
Missouri24.2
U.S.20
0
violent crimes reported in 2022
4
property crimes reported in 2022
FBI crime data, 2022 · crimes reported to police
HealthC+
Gower is less healthy than 59% of U.S. towns
For adults in Gower, the share who get no exercise outside work is 30%. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Gower is ahead of Missouri on 3 and behind on 1. Among adults here, 35% sleep under 7 hours and 11% worry about having enough food.
41%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Gower | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 38% | 36% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
3 better28 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Gower | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.1% | 9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.7% | 12.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 8.6% |
Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph
14.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in Gower, with inland flooding at the top
One flood insurance claim has been paid in Gower since 1984. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in the town than in 58% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects here, 60% come from inland flooding and 14% from tornadoes.
58risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 1984
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 666 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gower City Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 43 attractions →Arrowhead Stadium and 29 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Gower. Close and well known come first.
Big draw40 mi Stadium & arenaArrowhead Stadium
32 mi Park & preserveSubTropolis
40 mi Stadium & arenaKauffman Stadium
31 mi Theme parkWorlds of Fun
34 mi Stadium & arenaCPKC Stadium
36 mi Stadium & arenaT-Mobile CenterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Arrowhead Stadium: Ichabod, CC BY-SA 3.0 · SubTropolis: ErgoSum88, Public domain · Kauffman Stadium: Mysteryman28, Public domain · Worlds of Fun: Tkexb173 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · CPKC Stadium: elisfkc2, CC BY-SA 2.0 · T-Mobile Center: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gower
19pages on Gower
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 82% of MO districts · 2 schoolsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2022)HealthC+Better than MO on 3 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$319K typical home · up 5.4% in a yearWork & commuteB−$84K median household income · 323 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 58% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Gower
About 8 of every 100 Gower residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
About Gower
City in Buchanan and Clinton counties in Missouri, United States
Gower is a city in Buchanan and Clinton counties Missouri, United States, that is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 1,533 at the 2020 census. The Buchanan County portion of Gower is part of the St. Joseph, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Clinton County portion is part of the Kansas City, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 945 ft
- ZIP code
- 64454
- Area code
- 816
Questions about Gower
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gower, MO a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Missouri.