City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Harlowton, MT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Harlowton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,054
Residents
$53,750
Median income
$178,800
Median home
$1,117
Median rent (state)

Harlowton - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Harlowton lands in the 25th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

25th
percentile, household income
36th
percentile, home value
30th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Harlowton, MT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,054 residents in Harlowton, a small town within Montana. Harlowton households earn a median of $53,750 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.1%. Harlowton's housing stock carries a median value of $178,800, and the median resident age is 50.8 years. About 13.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 44.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Harlowton's yearly average temperature at 43.8°F with 13.2 inches of precipitation per year and 19.6 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Montana scores 94.6 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,117 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Montana run around $175, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 3.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

1,054 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$53,750 /yr

Poverty 10.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Harlowton compare to other US cities?

Where Harlowton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 36% pricier than other cities
Median rent 30% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Harlowton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Harlowton near the bottom of Montana's cities

Among the 317 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Harlowton ranks #290 - the 8th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Harlowton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#175 of 282
38th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#290 of 317
8th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#190 of 279
32nd percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#112 of 315
64th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#252 of 317
20th percentile in Montana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Montana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

25thIncome percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Harlowton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$178,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 64% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Harlowton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Harlowton, MT Harlowton, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Harlowton, MT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Harlowton, MT median $53,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Harlowton, MT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Harlowton, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 44.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,054
Median Income
$53,750
Median Home Value
$178,800
Median Age
50.8
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Labor force participation
44.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
43.8°F
Annual Precipitation
13.2"
Annual Snowfall
19.6"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
940 residents950 residents960 residents970 residents980 residents 202020212022202320242025 962 residents 976 residents ▲ +1.5%
Harlowton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
61.5%
Carpool
17.5%
Public Transit
1.9%
Walk
12.4%
Work from Home
6.7%

Based on 371 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Montana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$175
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Montana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Montana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Harlowton sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,117/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
3.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

St. Ignatius
1,053 people
Plains
1,077 people
Pray
1,018 people
Gallatin Gateway
1,092 people
Helena Flats
1,014 people
Philipsburg
1,012 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Harlowton's 1,054 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spearville, KS
1,054 people
Housatonic, MA
1,054 people
Glasgow, MO
1,054 people
Yale, OK
1,054 people
Martin, SD
1,054 people
Green Lake, WI
1,054 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Harlowton's $53,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ehrenberg, AZ
$53,750 median income
Le Grand, CA
$53,750 median income
Ellaville, GA
$53,750 median income
Clay City, IL
$53,750 median income
Cypress, IL
$53,750 median income
Loami, IL
$53,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Harlowton, MT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Harlowton, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.2% White 95.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 4.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Harlowton compares to nearby Montana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Harlowton (this city) 1,054 $53,750
St. Ignatius 1,053 $50,781
Plains 1,077 $24,661
Pray 1,018 $102,143
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Harlowton, MT?

What is the population of Harlowton, MT? +

Harlowton, MT has a population of 1,054 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Harlowton, MT? +

In Harlowton, the typical household earns $53,750 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Harlowton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Harlowton; the closest available measure is the Montana state average, a cost of living index of 94.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Montana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Harlowton, MT? +

The median home value in Harlowton is $178,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Harlowton? +

Climate normals put Harlowton's yearly average temperature at 43.8°F, 13.2 inches of precipitation, and 19.6 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.