Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Kent leads 13 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Kent
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($198,900 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $588/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,742)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $45,125/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 7.6%)
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $45,125 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (7.6%)
5% less violent crime than Hartford
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Hartford
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$280k less
$198,900 vs $478,400
Hartford
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$45,125
$86,966 vs $41,841/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
5% lower
489.7 vs 515.8 per 100k
Kent
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
7.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 13 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 10 and Kent wins 13. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $478,400 median home), income ($41,841 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Kent, WA are about 2,427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.