Below Average CostVery SafeHartford Public Schools
Median Income
$35,705
household / year
Median Home Value
$91,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$818
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100
Is Hartford, MI a Good Place to Live?
Hartford is a small town of 2,565 in Michigan, with a median household income of $35,705
and a 10.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hartford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 90.8
Hartford's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hartford costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hartford, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$91,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$818
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$35,705
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Hartford's violent crime rate is 162.1 per 100,000 residents
— 57% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
162.1 /100k
Property Crime
1337.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hartford is served primarily by Hartford Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hartford, MI
National Avg
School District
Hartford Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hartford sees average highs of 33.3°F in January
and 84.6°F in July,
with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 86.6 inches of snow per year.
Hartford's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hartford roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $91,600 and median rent is $818/month.
Hartford's violent crime rate is 162.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1337.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hartford are operated by Hartford Public Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.8:1. 6.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hartford, MI has a population of 2,565, a median household income of $35,705, and an unemployment rate of 10.7%.
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 33.3°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches
with about 86.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hartford, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49057.
The population of Hartford, Michigan is 2,565 with a median age of 29.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hartford: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $91,600, median household income $35,705, crime index 51 (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.