What are the schools like in Hartford, CT?

Hartford is served primarily by Hartford School District. The district operates 22 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 10 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Hartford?

The median household income in Hartford, CT is $41,841 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.6%.

What is the weather like in Hartford, CT?

Hartford has an average high temperature of 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 51.7 inches.

Hartford, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hartford, CT affordable or expensive?

Hartford's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hartford is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $198,900 and the median rent is $1,154 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hartford, CT?

Hartford has a violent crime rate of 515.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2845.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hartford, CT a Good Place to Live?

Hartford is a mid-sized city of 121,057 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $41,841 and a 10.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Hartford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 96.1

Hartford's overall cost of living index is 96.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hartford costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hartford, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$198,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,154	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	25.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,841	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Hartford's violent crime rate is 515.8 per 100,000 residents — 36% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

515.8 /100k

Property Crime

2845.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hartford is served primarily by Hartford School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hartford, CT	National Avg
School District	Hartford School District	—
Elementary Schools	22	—
Middle Schools	6	—
High Schools	10	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	74.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hartford sees average highs of 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 42.8 inches of annual precipitation and 51.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hartford, CT
Average High — January	36.8°F
Average High — July	84.6°F
Annual Precipitation	42.8"
Annual Snowfall	51.7"

Demographics

Metric	Hartford, CT	National Avg
Population	121,057	—
Median Age	33.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	27.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	36.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	25.3%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	11.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Blue Hills, CT 3 mi West Hartford, CT 4 mi East Hartford, CT 4 mi Wethersfield, CT 4 mi Newington, CT 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Hartford

Hartford, CT is covered by 7 ZIP codes:

06106 06114 06120 06112 06105 06103 06095

Hartford vs Other Cities

Hartford, CT vs Blue Hills, CT Hartford, CT vs West Hartford, CT Hartford, CT vs East Hartford, CT Hartford, CT vs Wethersfield, CT Hartford, CT vs Newington, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hartford, CT affordable or expensive?

Hartford's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hartford roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $198,900 and median rent is $1,154/month.

What is the crime rate in Hartford, CT?

Hartford's violent crime rate is 515.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2845.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hartford?

Public schools in Hartford are operated by Hartford School District. The district has 22 elementary, 6 middle, and 10 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 17.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hartford, CT a good place to live?

Hartford, CT has a population of 121,057, a median household income of $41,841, and an unemployment rate of 10.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hartford?

Hartford averages 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.8 inches with about 51.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hartford?

Hartford, CT is covered by 7 ZIP codes: 06106, 06114, 06120, 06112, 06105, 06103, 06095.

What is the population of Hartford?

The population of Hartford, Connecticut is 121,057 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hartford?

Key numbers for living in Hartford: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $198,900, median household income $41,841, crime index 136 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. 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.