The Town FilesHardin, Montana
City in Big Horn County · population 3,818 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,100
- Household income
- $60,423
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 37.1
Hardin is a city of 3,818 people in Big Horn County, Montana. The median home is worth $147,100, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Montana towns, easier by car than 89% of Montana towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Montana towns.
How Hardin ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hardin is worth $147,100, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $60,423, which is more affordable than 89% of Montana towns. Median rent is $771 a month. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hardin | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,100 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $771 | $893 |
| Median household income | $60,423 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hardin
| People | Hardin | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 86.6% |
Weather in Hardin
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 13.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.9 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hardin since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 22, 1996 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 22, 1996.
Severe weather in Big Horn County since 1996
Big Horn County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 28, 2021 | Fire | FM-5403: Pf Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Big Horn County
Big Horn County had 3,743 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,992 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Hardin itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Hardin
4 public schools with 1,494 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin High School | 9-12 | 540 | 16.9 |
| Hardin Middle School | 6-8 | 370 | 12.8 |
| Hardin Primary | PK-2 | 304 | 13.8 |
| Hardin Intermediate | 3-5 | 280 | 12.7 |
Hardin questions
Is Hardin, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hardin scores better for retirees than 42% of Montana towns and quieter than 43%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Hardin?
The median owner-occupied home in Hardin is valued at $147,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,423, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $771 a month.
What is the weather like in Hardin?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.8 inches of precipitation a year and 27.9 inches of snow.
Does Hardin get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hardin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 22, 1996. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- 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)