Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Hartford, CT

    Is Hartford a good place to live?

    Watch Hartford

    Hartford ranks #24 of 24 Connecticut cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (9/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.9% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $217,200
    +9.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,221
    per month
    Household income
    $45,300
    median
    Unemployment
    10.6%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Hartford

    The median home value in Hartford is $217,200 and median rent is $1,221 a month, against a median household income of $45,300. Homes cost about 4.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Hartford crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Connecticut the 2025 rate was 111 violent and 1,159 property crimes per 100,000 people — #46 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Hartford, CT

    Hartford has about 119,970 residents, 10.6% unemployment and 10% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Hartford with

    Hartford vs BridgeportHartford vs StamfordHartford vs New HavenHartford vs WaterburyHartford vs NorwalkHartford vs DanburyHartford vs New BritainHartford vs West Hartford

    More: Where to move in Connecticut · Best counties in Connecticut

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report