The Town FilesHazen, North Dakota
City in Mercer County · population 2,281 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,300
- Household income
- $79,609
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 49.1
Hazen is a city of 2,281 people in Mercer County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $190,300, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks hipper than 85% of North Dakota towns, better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns, more of a college town than 81% of North Dakota towns.
How Hazen 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 Hazen is worth $190,300, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $79,609, which is more affordable than 57% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $918 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hazen | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,300 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $918 | $775 |
| Median household income | $79,609 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Hazen
| People | Hazen | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.7% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 87.3% |
Weather in Hazen
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 2.8°F. About 16.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.4 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hazen since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 18, 1956 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 14, 1977.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4934: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| February 5, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4686: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Mercer County
Mercer County had 4,450 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,476 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Hazen itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Hazen
3 public schools with 563 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAZEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 261 | 14.5 |
| HAZEN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 166 | 12.8 |
| HAZEN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 136 | 19.4 |
Towns near Hazen
- Beulah, ND7.2 mi · 3,058 people · home $203,300
- Center, ND19.9 mi · 588 people · home $204,100
- Underwood, ND25.1 mi · 784 people · home $191,200
- Garrison, ND26.3 mi · 1,462 people · home $165,800
- Washburn, ND28.0 mi · 1,300 people · home $238,200
Hazen questions
Is Hazen, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hazen scores better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 42%. 24.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Hazen?
The median owner-occupied home in Hazen is valued at $190,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,609, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $918 a month.
What is the weather like in Hazen?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 2.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.4 inches of snow.
Does Hazen get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hazen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 18, 1956. 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)