Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco 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 ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
San Francisco
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $1150k less ($198,900 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1162/mo less ($1,154 vs $2,316)
14% less violent crime than San Francisco
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $94,848/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 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $94,848 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 85°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Hartford
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
14% lower
515.8 vs 596.5 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$1150k less
$198,900 vs $1,348,700
Hartford
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$94,848
$136,689 vs $41,841/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 13 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 10 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($41,841 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and San Francisco, CA are about 2,651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.