Hartford is a small town of 457 in Kansas, with a median household income of $51,375
and a 1.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hartford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, 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: 84.6
Hartford's overall cost of living index is 84.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hartford costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hartford, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$76,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$654
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Hartford's violent crime rate is 268.1 per 100,000 residents
— 29% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
268.1 /100k
Property Crime
1671.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hartford is served primarily by Southern Lyon County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hartford, KS
National Avg
School District
Southern Lyon County
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hartford sees average highs of 41.2°F in January
and 90.2°F in July,
with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.5 inches of snow per year.
Hartford's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hartford roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $76,500 and median rent is $654/month.
Hartford's violent crime rate is 268.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1671.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hartford are operated by Southern Lyon County.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hartford, KS has a population of 457, a median household income of $51,375, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%.
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 41.2°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches
with about 12.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hartford, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66854.
The population of Hartford, Kansas is 457 with a median age of 21.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hartford: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $76,500, median household income $51,375, crime index 74 (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.
