Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 12 of 22 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
31% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Cons
Median income trails Portsmouth by $15,313/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 6.6%)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Households earn $15,313 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
31% lower
515.8 vs 752.4 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$14k less
$198,900 vs $213,300
Portsmouth
Median Income
$15,313
$57,154 vs $41,841/yr
Portsmouth
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 12 of 22 categories. Hartford wins 10 and Portsmouth wins 12. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $213,300 median home), income ($41,841 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Portsmouth, VA are about 392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.