$304,237Average Value$172Average Price per Sq Ft9Homes For Sale
A rural Montana town near the Yellowstone River
While Worden is only 21 miles from Billings, this rural town near the Yellowstone River has a commercial core with just enough amenities to keep locals close to home. “It’s got the real Montana small-town feel, but we have a clinic, a bank, a library and a grocery store,” says Nikki Zimmer, who’s lived here for over 20 years and is a broker at Metro Realtors LLP. “The people here are very kind and watch out for each other. We’ve had some families who’ve gone through some hardships, and people come together to help each other out.”
Worden is part of the Huntley Project Irrigation District, named for an early 20th-century irrigation project that made it possible to farm the land around Worden, as well as the neighboring towns of Ballantine, Pompeys Pillar and Huntley. Today, locals refer to the area as the Huntley Project, and agriculture — particularly the cultivation of sugar beets and barley — is the main industry. Agricultural runoff has resulted in water contamination in recent years, a problem the district is actively working to fix.
The overall CAP Crime Score here is 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4, and nearby houses of worship include Bethlehem Congregational Church. The local schools share a single campus, and the whole community is involved in supporting school sports and extracurriculars. The nearby Yellowstone River is the main source of entertainment, providing ample opportunities for fishing and boating from roughly May through September; below-freezing winter temperatures here tend to start in October and last into April.
Fertile farms on the outskirts of Worden contribute to Montana's rich agricultural heritage.
A mural in Worden depicts the town's location, celebrating local pride.
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National and ranch-style homes around Main Street
Most of Worden’s early 20th-century National homes and midcentury ranch-style homes are clustered around Main Street in the town’s center; some sit close together, but most have room for chicken coops, detached garages and workshops. Mature trees provide shade and privacy from the roads, which are narrow and lack sidewalks. Buyers can also find some late 20th-century split-levels and manufactured homes. Houses rarely come on the market here, and prices can range from $130,000 to $350,000, depending on updates. Ranch-style houses on acres of farmland are more common further from town, and none have recently come on the market.
A row of national-style homes in Worden showcases early American architectural influence.
Quaint traditional homes in Worden support local ranches, embodying rural life.
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Steaks and burgers at On the Rocks
Worden’s commercial center spans one block of Main Street and includes the post office, a few restaurants and a grocery store. The family-owned On the Rocks is a bar and restaurant specializing in steaks and burgers; they also host a bingo night each Wednesday and have a casino floor stocked with slot machines. At Willys Bar, locals can watch the Huntley Project High Red Devils play away games on television while enjoying pizza. Project Merc is a local grocery store that stocks produce, brand names and house-made food like German sausage and fresh donuts. Stores like Walmart and Shipton’s Big R are about 18 miles away in northeastern Billings.
Project Merc in Worden serves as a local hub for groceries and essentials.
Locals gather to eat and drink at Willys Bar in Worden, fostering community bonds.
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Championship volleyball at Huntley Project High
Local kids can start school at Huntley Project Elementary, which earns a B-minus from Niche, and then attend the C-rated Huntley Project Junior High before moving on to the C-plus-rated Huntley Project High; all schools share the same campus. “We are very centered around our schools here, and we’re known as being at the top for sports and speech and drama,” Zimmer says. “A lot of community members, whether or not they have school-age kids, will go to sporting events.” Huntley Project High has over 10 sports teams, and the volleyball and wrestling teams both won state championships in 2023. One of the biggest games of the year is The Battle of the Bridge, where the Huntley Project High Red Devils compete against their rivals, Shepherd High, on the football field.
Worden
Athletic events at Huntley Project High School boost school spirit and teamwork.
Huntley Project Junior High School bridges foundational learning and advanced studies.
The Huntley Project Education Campus near Worden provides comprehensive schooling.
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Fishing, kayaking and swimming on the Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is to the north, and anglers can cast a line at Gritty Stone Fishing Access Site and Voyagers Rest Fishing Access Site; the riverbanks here are also popular for rock collectors searching for agate and jasper. Zimmer says the river flows too fast for much activity in the spring and early summer, but by late summer and fall, locals can swim and kayak. In winter, many take advantage of the area’s flat open spaces and snowy climate to cross-country ski, or they’ll rig up sleds behind four-wheelers and take the kids on a wild ride.
About 8 miles east, the 51-acre Pompeys Pillar National Monument is a distinctive sandstone rock formation on the Yellowstone River, a popular hiking spot carved with inscriptions left by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The semi-private Pryor Creek Golf Club is about 10 miles southwest and one of only two 36-hole golf courses in the state; their Johnny Walker course is open to the public, but the more challenging Elmer Link course is members-only.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument near Worden preserves historical inscriptions.
A young child practices his swing at Pryor Creek Golf Club, embracing the sport early.
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The annual Beef, Beets & Barley Festival
Each September, Worden’s agriculture is on display at the annual Beef, Beets & Barley Festival. Locals can show off their footwork at the street dance, feast on a barbecue dinner and play a game of cow pie bingo; in the latter, a cow pasture is gridded and numbered, and whichever number a cow defecates on first is the bingo winner. The annual Christmas Stroll in December is another popular annual event, where local groups and businesses decorate a round hay bale to be displayed along Main Street.
Easy access to Highway 312
Highway 312 passes through the area’s center, leading about 21 miles west to downtown Billings; Interstate 94 is just over a mile south. There’s no public transportation here, and while many residents who live in the town’s center can walk or bike to shopping and restaurants, they have to rely on their cars to travel to Billings. RiverStone Health Clinic is in the center of the community, and Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital and Billings-Logan International Airport are both about 23 miles southeast.
High nitrate levels in tap water
Worden’s tap water has been unsafe to drink since 2019 when tests revealed high levels of nitrates. “We do a lot of flood irrigation for the crops, and over the years nitrates have seeped into the water,” Zimmer says. “You can bathe in it and do all kinds of things with it but not drink it from the tap.” Most residents drink bottled water instead, and the Worden-Ballantine Yellowstone County Water and Sewer District is working on drilling new wells that are safe to drink from. “We’re hoping that within this next year, it will be resolved,” Zimmer says.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Reach out to
Hannah Reno,
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Parks in this Area
Pompeys Pillar National Monument
Transit
Airport
Billings Logan International
50 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Worden
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Worden, Billings sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Worden, Billings over the last 12 months is $372,333, up 21% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Rare opportunity to own your own block in Worden. Six total units. All are 2 bedroom 1 bath units. This is perfect for investors! Each individual unit can be bought separately or all together! Property addresses include: 2483 2nd Ave, 2485 2nd Ave, 2487 2nd Ave, 2489 2nd Ave, 2491 2nd Ave, and 2493 2nd Ave.
Really nice 2-bedroom 1 bath home in Worden. With large 700 sq ft garage behind home. The home has been freshly painted as of the last week and looks very clean and polished. Oak hardwood floors in master bedroom and 2nd bedroom. Carpet color in living room fits very well with the newly painted walls. This home is move in ready and is awaiting the new occupants.
Beautiful ranch-style home that has been completely remodeled. Main floor features a wide-open floor plan with large kitchen island & pantry. Main bedroom has access to the back patio, walk-in closet & main bathroom w/jetted tub, laundry chute & heated tile floors! Huge mud room area off the garage with built-in storage. New wiring in the entire house. Large yard with an additional lot which is
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Hannah Reno,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
544
Median Age
47
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
21.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.6%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$78,055
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$92,642
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.2%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
29%
Advanced Degrees
6.1%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
15''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
44''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
40/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
30/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
