Harlowton is a city in and the county seat of Wheatland County, Montana, United States. The population was 955 at the 2020 census. The city was once the eastern terminus of electric operations (1914–74) for the "Pacific Extension" of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad ("Milwaukee Road"). Here, steam or diesel locomotives were changed or hooked up to electric locomotives for 438-mile (705 km) trip through the Rocky Mountains to Avery, Idaho. Harlowton was founded in 1900 as a station stop on the Montana Railroad, a predecessor to the Milwaukee, and was named for Richard A. Harlow, the Montana Railroad's president.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code59036

Area code406

Living in Harlowton

Housing in Harlowton

$168K▲ 10.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Harlowton home is worth about $168,000, up 10.5% in a year, 64% below the Montana typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Harlowton

Full picture →

About one in 3 of Harlowton’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Judith Gap (5%), Billings (4%) and Ryegate (3%). Half commute less than 17 miles.

Judith Gap

Billings

Ryegate

Bozeman

39%Work in townlive and work in Harlowton 17 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 356Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Harlowton →

Health in Harlowton

Health Grade C

Healthier than 28% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 52% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Montana

3better than MT·15worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 8▼ 3 close Habits 1▲ 2▼ 1 close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 2▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.3%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethMT 12.3% · better 16.2%Fewer binge drinkersMT 20.3% · better 11.4%More adults with COPDMT 7% · worse

Care nearby

Wheatland Memorial HospitalHarlowton · 0.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

One Health - LewistownLewistown · 47.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Harlowton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Harlowton →

Natural hazards in Harlowton

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves⚡ Lightning

9Does Harlowton flood?paid flood claims since 1979 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Harlowton

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Harlowton →

Climate in Harlowton

Full climate →

Harlowton has cold winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 20 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

38° / 14°Winter

56° / 29°Spring

81° / 47°Summer

59° / 30°Fall

How much snow does Harlowton get?About 20 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 16, with the last in spring around May 23.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Harlowton →

Schools in Harlowton

All Harlowton schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Harlowton’s kids attend trail 66% of Montana’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictHarlowton K-12Schools3

Hillcrest School C+Elementary · Grades PK–8 · 195 students Hillcrest 7-8 B-Middle · Grades 7–8 · 37 students Harlowton High School C-High · Grades 9–12 · 66 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within MT. Ratings are from neighbors.