Guide to Moving to Hartford, CT: Cost of Living, Neighborhoods, Amenities and More

Quick and Fun Facts About Hartford, CT

Located in the serene Connecticut River Valley in the north-central part of the state, Hartford is a city that many are familiar with but few really know. Hartford was founded in 1635 – making it one of the oldest cities in America – and though the Connecticut state capital isn’t the largest city in the state, it is still a vital economic and cultural engine.  

Industry titans like Aetna and the Hartford have made the city of 120,000 (metro area of 900,000) the Insurance Capital of the World. But companies like Stanley Black & Decker earned Hartford its reputation as the Hardware City. As the birthplace of financier J.P. Morgan, Hartford’s commercial success should come as little surprise.  

Hartford is also rich in cultural capital. Several famous writers called the city home, including abolitionists Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain, whose homes have been converted into museums. Acclaimed poet Wallace Stevens, whose formal profession was — fittingly — in insurance law, moved to Hartford in 1916 and lived there until his death in 1955. Even dictionary man Noah Webster was born here. Hartford is also home to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the United States. 

Hartford’s natural beauty is sometimes underestimated and overlooked. But the city greenspaces, Bushnell Park — the oldest publicly funded space of its kind in the country — is just one of many spots that draw crowds of locals and visitors, especially for the city’s many festivals throughout the year.  

Just two-and-a-half hours from New York City and two hours from Boston, Hartford is within easy reach of other major cities in the region. But, not surprisingly, residents in Hartford enjoy a far lower cost of living. If you’re looking for a New England location that won’t break the bank, the Insurance Capital may be a good fit for you. Learn our best tips for moving to Hartford in the guide below, where we’ll give you an insider’s look at the job market, popular neighborhoods, and the best food, drink and entertainment in Hartford.  

Hartford’s Cost of Living 

Hartford isn’t a commuter town for New York City like Stamford and Greenwich are, so its cost of living is a fraction of those cities and the Big Apple’s. Compared to other popular Connecticut cities, Hartford’s cost of living comes in at the bottom of the barrel. The median home value in Hartford is just $198,900 and the median gross rent is $1,154, both below the national average. Compared with Greenwich, especially where home values averaged more than $1.5 million between 2018 and 2022, Hartford’s real estate prices seem like a bargain.  

But other common household expenses like food, healthcare and personal insurance/pensions tend to be more expensive in the Northeast, so you won’t save as much in Hartford as you might in a comparably sized city in the Midwest or Southeast. Hourly wages in the greater Hartford area top the U.S. average by close to $4, but within the city, the median annual household income of $41,841 falls far short — it’s the lowest in the state and virtually equivalent to the per capita income nationally. A major ouch for the wallet. 

Hartford’s Job Market

There is a reason Hartford is known as the Insurance Capital of the World. Hartford is the home base of Aetna and The Hartford and the largest office of Travelers. But if insurance is Hartford’s commercial right arm, manufacturing is its left. Companies like Stanley Black & Decker make their headquarters in Hartford County, as does aerospace giant Pratt & Whitney and its parent corporation, United Technologies.  

Although 25% of the largest employers in Hartford are in the insurance business, the largest single sector in the city is education and health services. The University of Connecticut and UCONN Health, the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford HealthCare, and Saint Francis Hospital are just of a few of the institutions employing 155,500 individuals in the Hartford area workforce. The city is home to several other universities, in addition to UConn, including Trinity College and the University of Hartford.  

With 90,200 workers, the second-largest sector in Hartford is trade, transportation and utilities, followed by professional and business services, which employs 74,300. Between 2023 and 2024, only the information sector saw noticeable losses, and even those didn’t break 4%.  

Unemployment has been on a bit of an uptick of late, and while rates in June 2023 for the greater metro area were only at 2.9%, they’ve now swelled to 3.6% overall and ballooned from 4.7% to 6.4% in the city proper. 

Neighborhood Spotlight 

Bordered on the east by the meandering Connecticut River, Hartford is a diverse city with a vibrant downtown scene, pleasant suburbs and fun and inviting neighborhoods everywhere in between.  

Downtown is still the central business district of Hartford and the city’s historic heart. You’ll find commuters and government officials hustling during the workweek, but there are plenty of bars and restaurants to chill out at on charming Pratt Street. When you really want to slow down the pace, there’s Bushnell Park. Amongst the hundreds of mature trees here, like the famous Charter Oak, lies the Connecticut State Capitol, a stately, castle-like building with a grand, golden dome. The city has really invested in making downtown an entertainment destination. You’ll see that from the wonderfully reinvigorated riverfront area to Dunkin’ Park, where the Hartford Yard Goats chew up the MiLB competition. With plenty of high-rise apartments and a zippy after-hours scene, Downtown Hartford is a fun place to live, especially for young professionals.  

You’ll never have to hunt for a good meal in Hartford’s South End. This tight-knit residential district is known for Italian staples, like the Chicken Saltimbocca at the First & Last Tavern (est. in 1936!), and newer favorites, like the Lomo Saltado from Vista Alegre, a Peruvian restaurant. This international neighborhood just west of I-91 has a wide range of affordable single- and multi-family homes. On the west side, Goodwin Park provides families with excellent recreational facilities, from a public pool to tennis courts and a golf course. This neighborhood is walkable and well-loved, and it’s long been a refuge for immigrants from Italians in the early 20th century to newcomers from Columbia to Africa and Bosnia in the 21st. 

Asylum Hill was once a pastoral expanse west of the city limits, but over time, the large parcels were divided up for smaller single families and, eventually, modern and contemporary apartments and condos. This area has seen its share of highs and lows, and the recent high vacancy rate has left residents worried. But two of Hartford’s most famous residences still offer stability to a neighborhood in flux — the house museums of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. St. Francis Hospital is another anchor for the area — it was established in 1897 and remains the largest Catholic hospital in the region. And two of the city’s biggest corporations also have their main offices here — Aetna and the Hartford. 

Hartford’s West End, by extreme contrast, is one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods. This sought-after area has fabulous (and expensive), turn-of-the-last-century homes and oodles of amenities. On Tuesdays from June-October, you’ll find fresh veggies, flowers and eggs, along with ready-to-eat provisions from the West End Farmer’s Market. UConn’s Law School is also in the West End, just a stone’s throw from the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Elizabeth Park — a favorite of poet Wallace Stevens — has a jaw-dropping rose garden, poetically arched stone bridges and a beautiful lily pond — all of which make for an inspiring respite from everyday life. One of our favorite spots is the Parkville Market — a food hall serving up creative, international flavors from boba to Portuguese pulled chicken.  

Note: If you’re thinking of moving to Hartford, it’s important to thoroughly research neighborhoods you might be interested in living. Before you decide where you are going to live, make sure you understand the area’s cost of living, commute time, tax rates, safety statistics and schooling information. 

Experience Hartford Like a Local

Must-Visit Attractions

When folks think of Hartford, the corporate aspect of the city may come first to mind. But, if you move to Hartford, you’ll find there’s so much to enjoy. Here are a few of our favorite destinations. 

The Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art is one of the finest institutions in the region, and, surprisingly, it’s the oldest continually operated public art museum in the country. One of the 24 spots on the Connecticut Art Trail, the Wadsworth has a fine permanent collection and wonderful temporary exhibitions, as well.  

When you need something a little more hands-on, take the family to the Connecticut Science Center. This downtown spot has everything you need for a day of educational distraction — a human kaleidoscope, a model lunar lander and a Dilophosaurus, which hasn’t bitten anyone (to our knowledge) in 200 million years or so.  

The nearby downtown riverfront plays host to lots of annual events, none of which takes better advantage of the river than dragon boating. Each summer, the Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival offers practiced and unexperienced rowers the chance to participate in this Chinese tradition. During a regular week, the riverfront offers a variety of exercise classes, from barre to Zumba to Irish Road Bowling. BYO Jameson. 

Bushnell Park hosts its own events, like the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, movies in the park and the free, Hopgood/Lord Summer Music Series. Bushnell’s charming carousel makes everyday visits to this expansive park and arboretum special. Be sure to look for the famous Charter Oak! 

Just south of downtown, you can visit the Butler-McCook House & Garden – a one-acre, 18th-century treasure. Beyond downtown, Elizabeth Park (mentioned in the Neighborhood section above) is a stunning greenspace, with hundreds of roses and serene lily ponds to help wile away the hours. If you’re a gardener in your own right, you’ll have one of the best nurseries in the country within an hour’s drive — the White Flower Farm store and gardens are located west of the city in the rolling Litchfield Hills.  

Entertainment and Nightlife

Hartford does have an entertaining side, and there are plenty of venues to enjoy your favorite diversions. Sports fans have several teams — pro and college — to cheer for, from the Hartford Yard Goats, who bring MiLB fans to Dunkin’ Park, to the UConn Huskies, who dominate at the XL Center. The AHL’s Wolf Pack also competes there.  

Dance and theatre fans will love the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. You can see your favorite Broadway productions, like Les Mis and The Lion King, authors like David Sedaris and kids’ shows, like Bluey’s Big Play. Music lovers will want season tickets to the Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, where the 2024 lineup includes the Robert Cray Band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. The 500-seat theatre makes for an intimate setting – there’s nary a mosh pit in sight.  

Foods and Drinks

With its highly diverse population, Hartford offers an expansive, international palette (or should we say, palate?) of both traditional and contemporary flavors. If you’re downtown and looking for traditional Italian fare (which Hartford has a lot of), you can’t go wrong with Salute. The rose pasta with its creamy pink sauce and sausage, the sweet potato ravioli and the spicy Giobatto will satisfy even the fiercest cravings for the classics.  

If it’s a special night out, try Max Downtown. This elegant chophouse wows with its filet mignon Oscar, served with lump crab and hollandaise, and its cowboy-cut ribeyes. Expect updated versions of all your favorite sides — parmesan-creamed spinach gratin, truffle fries and roasted brussels sprouts with miso, bacon and sesame brittle.  

You probably don’t think of Hartford as a Southern food town, but one spot in the Insurance Capital might change your tune. Black-Eyed Sally’s, with its Cajun bent, fries up crispy catfish fingers and hot chicken sandwiches. If it’s smoky goodness you’re after, head to Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ — the official barbeque of the UConn Huskies. While we can’t claim that the Kansas City-style baby-backs improve our free-throw average, the moink balls and burnt ends sure make game days tastier.  

Whether it’s a game day or just a Thursday, the Thomas Hooker Brewery will give you cause to celebrate. The Citrillo hazy IPA, the Nor’Easter winter lager and the Brewer’s Cut — Bourbon barrel-aged stout go down smooth and easy in any season.  

Prepare for Your Move to Hartford With America’s #1 Mover®

As America’s #1 Mover, United Van Lines has earned high-rated reviews and moved millions of families across the United States. Professional, long-distance movers from United Van Lines can help your family move to Hartford from anywhere in the country. 

Get a moving quote for Hartford. 

United Van Lines will help you understand the types of moving quotes and estimates you may receive. You can choose a full-service moving package or customize your moving options to include things like packing, unpacking, storage, debris removal and car shipping. Whatever you need to make your long-distance move to Hartford easier, United Van Lines is here to help you with. Follow our step-by-step guide to moving long-distance to get a preview of what’s in store. 

Whether you’re moving locally or cross-country, you’ll be confident you’re working with an experienced, dependable team whom you can trust.  

Even if you’re moving to Hartford by yourself, you don’t have to go it alone. Use our packing tips to make moving out and moving in a snap. Follow these moving checklists to make sure you haven’t skipped any important steps. 

Our exclusive House Key magazine gives you pro-level advice on moving, packing and more, anywhere and anytime. 

Get a quote today on moving to Hartford.