Hardin Cemetery Map, 2021
Hardin’s story
168 years in pictures
Census counts: 247 in 1880, a peak of 847 in 1920, 571 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2021 and 4 maps from 1889 on.
- 1858Hardin is settled
HardinMO
A town of 560, settled in 1858.
Population
560
2025 Census estimate · −1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$197K
+7.6% in a year
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
32.3
years
Jobs based here
104
A commuter town
Is Hardin a good place to live?
Hardin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
560 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Hardin: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hardin, and how to reach them.
PowerEvergy12.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHardin PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers72% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Hardin’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRayRay County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2022
ZIP code6403564035 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Hardin.
Work & commute
The average trip to work in Hardin is longer than in the typical Missouri or U.S. town
The top destinations are Richmond (20%), Kansas City (17%) and Claycomo (4%). In Hardin, 2.8% of working residents work locally. The median commute is under 35 miles.
3%work in town
| Hardin | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.8% | 13% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $78,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Hardin3%
Richmond20%
Kansas City17%
Claycomo4%
Liberty4%
35 mi
median commute distance
104
jobs based in Hardin
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Hardin’s kids attend
Its two schools are below. 2 public schools serve Hardin, with 205 students in all.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin-Central Elem.Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 110 | C |
| Hardin-Central HighLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 95 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
The typical home in Hardin: about $197K
Among households in Hardin, 77% are owner-occupiers. Values rose 7.6% in the 12 months to September 2026. Its rent at the middle of the market stands at $958 a month, near the Missouri town median ($971 a month) and below the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month).
$197KZillow home value
| Hardin | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 77% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $958 a month | $971 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Hardin$197K
Missouri$265K
+7.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers: that is Hardin’s year
Summer afternoons peak near 88° in July, and January nights bottom out around 20°; snowfall runs to about 14 inches a winter. The seasons in Hardin: chilly winters, warm summers.
14″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter22–41°
Spring43–65°
Summer65–86°
Fall45–67°
Oct 25
typical first frost
Apr 8
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Hardin
4 crimes were reported in Hardin in 2025: 2 property and 2 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Hardin is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Health
How healthy Hardin is
For adults in Hardin, the share who get no exercise outside work is 32%. 20% of adults smoke cigarettes here, against 17% in Missouri’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns.
| Hardin | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 17% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 30% | 25% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 25% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better30 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Hardin | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 19.9% | 16% |
| Fewer adults seeing a dentist | 52.8% | 60.4% |
Ray County Memorial Hospital
6.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Top of a moderate hazard risk in Hardin: inland flooding
57% of Hardin’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 16%. On expected storm and flood damage, Hardin sits above 52% of U.S. communities. The national flood insurance program has paid 85 claims locally since 1979.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesDrought
85
paid flood claims since 1979
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hardin
19pages on Hardin
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Hardin; the nearest are
William Jewell CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Liberty31.2 mi$20,610 tuitionUniversity of Central MissouriUniversity or college · Public · Warrensburg35.5 mi$10,050 in-state tuitionMetropolitan Community College-Kansas CityCommunity college · Public · Kansas City42.9 mi$3,630 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Hardin residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Hardin for work
Where Hardin’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
104jobs based in Hardin
3%of working residents work in town
35 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Hardin
City in Missouri, United States
Hardin is a city in southeast Ray County, Missouri, and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the United States. The population was 571 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 696 ft
- ZIP code
- 64035
- Area code
- 660
Questions about Hardin
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Hardin, MO a good place to live?
Hardin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Hardin, MO known for?
2 notable people were born here, including David Holsinger and Ralph F. Lozier.