The Town FilesHarwood, North Dakota
City in Cass County · population 794 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $321,100
- Household income
- $145,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 39.2
Harwood is a city of 794 people in Cass County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $321,100, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for families than 98% of North Dakota towns, more upscale than 97% of North Dakota towns, more of a college town than 83% of North Dakota towns.
How Harwood ranks
Percentile among North Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Harwood is worth $321,100, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $145,139, which is more affordable than 69% of North Dakota towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harwood | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $321,100 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | — | $775 |
| Median household income | $145,139 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harwood
| People | Harwood | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.0% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Harwood
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 0.2°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.4 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harwood since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 20, 1957 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 111 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 30, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 123 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 5, 1978.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 128,033 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,805 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Harwood itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Harwood
1 public school with 100 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 100 | 11.1 |
Towns near Harwood
- Reile's Acres, ND3.4 mi · 703 people · home $475,600
- Oakport, MN7.7 mi · 506 people · home $425,000
- Fargo, ND8.1 mi · 125,990 people · home $281,900
- West Fargo, ND8.4 mi · 38,626 people · home $321,900
- Mapleton, ND10.0 mi · 1,320 people · home $310,200
- Moorhead, MN10.1 mi · 44,505 people · home $249,000
- Dilworth, MN11.0 mi · 4,612 people · home $261,800
- Horace, ND15.3 mi · 3,085 people · home $414,500
Harwood questions
Is Harwood, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harwood scores better for retirees than 30% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 38%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Harwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Harwood is valued at $321,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $145,139, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Harwood?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 0.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 51.4 inches of snow.
Does Harwood get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 20, 1957. The typical North Dakota town has had 11.
- 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)