Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Hartford
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $53,539 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Hartford
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($198,900 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,555)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $53,539/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$53,539
$95,380 vs $41,841/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
73% lower
137.1 vs 515.8 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.6% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.6°F
Hartford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$128k less
$198,900 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,154 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 121,057 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 18 and Hartford wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Carrollton to Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $198,900 median home), income ($95,380 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Hartford, CT are about 1,455 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.