Hartford is a small town of 657 in Iowa, with a median household income of $71,635
and a 5.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hartford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
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: 92.7
Hartford's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hartford costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hartford, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$148,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,167
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
95.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,635
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Hartford's violent crime rate is 118.5 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
118.5 /100k
Property Crime
514.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hartford is served primarily by Carlisle Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hartford, IA
National Avg
School District
Carlisle Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hartford sees average highs of 30.0°F in January
and 83.5°F in July,
with 36.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Hartford's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hartford roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $148,900 and median rent is $1,167/month.
Hartford's violent crime rate is 118.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 514.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hartford are operated by Carlisle Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 10.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hartford, IA has a population of 657, a median household income of $71,635, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%.
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 30.0°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.6 inches
with about 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hartford, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50118.
The population of Hartford, Iowa is 657 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hartford: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $148,900, median household income $71,635, crime index 29 (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.
