Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($198,900 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $484/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $44,918/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 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $44,918 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (3.9%)
51% less violent crime than Hartford
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$185k less
$198,900 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$44,918
$86,759 vs $41,841/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
51% lower
254.7 vs 515.8 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 10.6% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 6 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $383,600 median home), income ($41,841 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Peoria, AZ are about 2,212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.