What are the schools like in Hartford, SD?

Hartford is served primarily by West Central School District 49-7. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.3:1.

What is the median household income in Hartford?

The median household income in Hartford, SD is $93,762 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Hartford, SD?

Hartford has an average high temperature of 25.3°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 45.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Hartford, SD affordable or expensive?

Hartford's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hartford is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $212,600 and the median rent is $740 per month.

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

Hartford has a violent crime rate of 608.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3339.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hartford, SD a Good Place to Live?

Hartford is a small town of 3,340 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $93,762 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% 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: 90.3

Hartford's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hartford costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hartford, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$212,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$740	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$93,762	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Hartford's violent crime rate is 608.4 per 100,000 residents — 60% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

608.4 /100k

Property Crime

3339.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hartford is served primarily by West Central School District 49-7. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hartford, SD	National Avg
School District	West Central School District 49-7	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hartford sees average highs of 25.3°F in January and 84.8°F in July, with 28.3 inches of annual precipitation and 45.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hartford, SD
Average High — January	25.3°F
Average High — July	84.8°F
Annual Precipitation	28.3"
Annual Snowfall	45.3"

Demographics

Metric	Hartford, SD	National Avg
Population	3,340	—
Median Age	38.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	25.0%	22.2%
65 and over	17.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Crooks, SD 7 mi Humboldt, SD 7 mi Lyons, SD 8 mi Colton, SD 12 mi Sioux Falls, SD 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Hartford

Hartford, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57033

Hartford vs Other Cities

Hartford, SD vs Crooks, SD Hartford, SD vs Humboldt, SD Hartford, SD vs Lyons, SD Hartford, SD vs Colton, SD Hartford, SD vs Sioux Falls, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hartford, SD affordable or expensive?

Hartford's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hartford roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $212,600 and median rent is $740/month.

What is the crime rate in Hartford, SD?

Hartford's violent crime rate is 608.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3339.7 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 West Central School District 49-7. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 31.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hartford, SD a good place to live?

Hartford, SD has a population of 3,340, a median household income of $93,762, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Hartford?

Hartford averages 25.3°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.3 inches with about 45.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hartford?

Hartford, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57033.

What is the population of Hartford?

The population of Hartford, South Dakota is 3,340 with a median age of 38.6. 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 90 (100 = US average), median home $212,600, median household income $93,762, crime index 160 (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.