Median Income
$44,977
household / year
Median Home Value
$122,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$760
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100

Is Hartford, AL a Good Place to Live?

Hartford is a small town of 2,660 in Alabama, with a median household income of $44,977 and a 0.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Hartford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Hartford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hartford city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.2

Hartford's overall cost of living index is 89.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hartford costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric Hartford, AL National Avg
Median Home Value $122,100 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $760 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 61.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $44,977 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hartford's violent crime rate is 112.5 per 100,000 residents — 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
112.5 /100k
Property Crime
562.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hartford is served primarily by Geneva County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Hartford, AL National Avg
School District Geneva County
Elementary Schools 3
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 4
Student/Teacher Ratio 17.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 8.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 84.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hartford sees average highs of 61.8°F in January and 92.3°F in July, with 62.3 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricHartford, AL
Average High — January61.8°F
Average High — July92.3°F
Annual Precipitation62.3"
Annual Snowfall0.1"

Demographics

MetricHartford, ALNational Avg
Population2,660
Median Age39.138.9
Unemployment Rate0.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time24.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)67.9%59.3%
Black or African American27.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.4%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1824.3%22.2%
65 and over18.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Hartford

Hartford, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Hartford vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Hartford's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hartford roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $122,100 and median rent is $760/month.
Hartford's violent crime rate is 112.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 562.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hartford are operated by Geneva County. The district has 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. 8.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hartford, AL has a population of 2,660, a median household income of $44,977, and an unemployment rate of 0.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Hartford averages 61.8°F in January and 92.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 62.3 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hartford, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36344.
The population of Hartford, Alabama is 2,660 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hartford: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $122,100, median household income $44,977, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hartford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.