Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $439k less ($198,900 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1199/mo less ($1,154 vs $2,353)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $106,386/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 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $106,386 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 pts lower (3.4%)
73% less violent crime than Hartford
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Hartford
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$439k less
$198,900 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$106,386
$148,227 vs $41,841/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
73% lower
138.1 vs 515.8 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 7 and Highlands Ranch wins 16. 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 Hartford to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $637,400 median home), income ($41,841 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.