Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York leads 15 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
New York
New York
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $533k less ($198,900 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,714)
23% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Median income trails New York by $34,766/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%)
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $34,766 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (7.6%)
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Hartford
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
23% lower
515.8 vs 671.0 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$533k less
$198,900 vs $732,100
New York
Median Income
$34,766
$76,607 vs $41,841/yr
New York
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
7.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 15 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 8 and New York wins 15. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $732,100 median home), income ($41,841 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and New York, NY are about 100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.