Hartford at a Glance
A riverfront capital in the heart of New England, Hartford is a city with a long history and a complex, contemporary character.
Unlike a mullet, Hartford has a reputation for being business in both the front and back, and the city’s nicknames aren’t helping. The lesser-known one — the “Hardware City” — isn’t half bad; being the home base of Stanley Black & Decker at least gives you some street cred with the DIY crowd. But “Insurance Capital of the World” makes Hartford sound squarer than a T-square – the pocket protector of the U.S.A. There are advantages to being practical, however.
Hartford’s insurance business dates back to 1794, so the fact that it is still thriving is remarkable. Other longstanding institutions, like Trinity College and the University of Hartford, have lent the city some much-needed stability over the years, as it’s gone through several periods of rocky changes.
Some of the most prominent writers, thinkers, and businesspeople in United States history have called this capital city their home, including Mark Twain, J.P. Morgan and Harriet Beecher Stowe. And, if it weren’t for Hartford native Noah Webster — America’s original dictionary — we might all still be speaking British English — crikey!
The contemporary capital has a diverse industry base and a healthy job market. The unemployment rate had largely been following national trends until June 2024, when it fell to a year-long low of 2.8%.
But there’s much more to Hartford than work life. This is also a city that knows how to enjoy itself. All over town, you’ll find gorgeous public greenspaces, like Elizabeth Park in the West End and Bushnell Park downtown. And summertime on the riverfront is filled with concerts and festivals.
Hartford’s cultural scene is impressive for a city of such modest size (pop. 119,669). The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the long-running jazz festivals and the city’s many theatres and museums bring wide-ranging entertainment and enrichment to the capital. And, let’s not forget minor league sports – the minor-league baseball (Double-A) Hartford Yard Goats and the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack bring major-league fun to the middle of Connecticut.
If you’re looking for a New England city with an affordable cost of living, you might want to consider moving to Hartford. Learn about the pros and cons of moving to Hartford, Connecticut, below, from the job market to popular neighborhoods and the best things to do.
Hartford’s Economic Overview
As the Insurance Capital of the World, some of Hartford’s biggest employers are Aetna, Travelers and, of course, The Hartford, which was founded in the city in 1810 as a fire insurance company. Local healthcare giants include Hartford Hospital and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Manufacturing and tech powerhouses include Pratt & Whitney, United Technologies and Stanley Black & Decker, all of which have their headquarters in the greater Hartford area.
But the city has a diverse industry spectrum, and most saw modest gains over the last year. Education and health services is the city’s biggest single sector, providing 116,200 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities employs 92,100, and professional and business services employs 75,900, with finance employing an additional 51,200, roughly equal to the number in manufacturing. Not surprisingly, the government in this capital city employs a robust portion of residents, supplying 97,400 jobs in the area.
In addition to being a hub for business, manufacturing and healthcare, Hartford is also located in the heart of Ivy League country, giving industries access to a workforce trained at some of the world’s best educational institutions. But there are also several colleges within the city itself. Trinity College, the University of Hartford and Central Connecticut State give students who want to stay local very solid options.
Hartford’s Cost of Living
It’s no secret that the Northeast is one of the most expensive regions in the country to live in. Residents here pay more for housing, food, healthcare, personal insurance/pensions and miscellaneous items, according to the BLS. And while the average hourly wage in the capital city may be slightly above the U.S. average, with Hartford workers earning $35.16/hr compared to the national rate of $31.48, annual incomes tell quite a different story.
The median household income in Hartford is a paltry $41,841 — the lowest of all cities in the state of Connecticut. The U.S. averages $75,149 and the Connecticut state average is an enviable $90,213.
While real estate costs in Hartford are nearly $100,000 below the national average and nearly $125,000 below the state’s, the disparity between income and housing makes it a near-vertical challenge to own your own home in the capital city, and many Hartford residents — almost 75% — do not. In the rest of the state and the nation, the percentage of owner-occupied housing units is 65% or higher.
So, what might you spend on housing in the Insurance Capital? The median home value in Hartford is $198,900 and the median gross rent averages just $1,154/month. So, if your earning potential more closely mirrors the U.S. average, Hartford’s cost of living may feel like a relief.
Hartford’s poverty rate reflects the imbalance between earnings and the cost of living, too. Statewide, only 9.8% of Connecticut residents live at or below the poverty line, but nearly 27% of those living in the heart of the state’s capital don’t earn a living wage.
Housing and Neighborhoods in Hartford
Compared to other major cities in the Northeast and Connecticut, housing costs in Hartford are far more affordable. And what’s even better is that Hartford has dozens of unique neighborhoods in which to reside, from the city center to the suburbs.
Downtown Hartford was built for both business and pleasure. Anchored by gorgeous Bushnell Park, there are historic sites like Connecticut’s Old State House, the Connecticut State Capitol and the Ancient Burying Ground. This cemetery does have some aged tombs, but as they only date back to 1640 CE, we’re gonna classify them as just very old rather than ancient. Commuters will find elegant but unpretentious eateries like Salute a welcome treat after the workday, but residents will find themselves downtown on the weekends, as well, perusing the collections at the Museum of Connecticut History or the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Apartments and condos are the norm in this bustling area, and you’ll find airy lofts, humble studios and snazzy perches with a view of the Connecticut River.
Those looking for style and substance on a more generous budget will want to check out Hartford’s West End. This fashionable enclave is easy to navigate on foot, so you could walk from Elizabeth Park to the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History and then hit the West End Farmer’s Market without going more than two miles. It’s also close to the University of Hartford and the University of Saint Joseph. In the western half of the West End, you’ll find colossal, multi-million-dollar estates, stuccoed English colonials and tidy condos in turn-of-the-last-century buildings. The eastern half of the West End, known as Asylum Hill, has more affordable digs.
If its name evokes more haunted houses than New England charmer, Asylum Hill is still a historic and welcoming section of the capital to live in. The name originates from the city’s original school for the deaf – the first permanent institution of its kind in the country — which was created at the urging of several private citizens who desired a proper education for their children with hearing loss and impairments. As Hartford’s first suburb, the area was once filled with gorgeous Victorian clapboards, and two of the city’s most famous homes still survive — those that once belonged to Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. The city’s insurance giants and Saint Francis Hospital also make their homes here. Asylum Hill is next to downtown, but the spaghetti-like junction of I-84 does make accessing the city’s amenities less than ideal.
Asylum Hill isn’t the only neighborhood name that’s an eyebrow-raiser. There’s also Clay Arsenal in the North End region and Behind the Rocks, in the South End, one of the city’s most diverse areas. This longtime refuge for new immigrants has been Hartford’s Little Italy since the 1920s — the place to go for cannoli, carbonara and pizza. The First and Last Tavern opened way back in 1936, and you won’t have to twist our arms to join you for a slice of their shrimp scampi pizza or their classic penne Bolognese. But newcomers these days come from all over — Bosnia, Peru, Albania, Columbia — and this neighborhood reflects these rich influences. If you’re looking for a homey, walkable, residential area close to the highway, this fits the bill.
Recreational Activities and Lifestyle in Hartford
Parks and Green Spaces
Hartford isn’t known as a city of parks, and that’s a shame because it’s certainly home to some fabulous greenspaces. Bushnell Park is the emerald in the city’s crown, where free, live music draws crowds to the annual Hopgood/Lord Summer Music Series and the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series, now in its 57th year. A charming, 1914 carousel offers a trip back in time on hand-carved wooden horses. But, if you prefer to explore on just two hooves, treat yourself to a tree-lined walk around the pond, the Corning Fountain and the nearby Connecticut State Capitol. All visitors must pay tribute to at least one of the park’s monuments – the Horace Wells statue. While Wells, a dentist, is no household name, without his discovery – that nitrous oxide could be used to prevent patients from feeling pain during surgery — we might all still be relying on a hypnotist and a swig of something stiff to have cavities filled or our knees replaced.
Dr. Wells had his laughing gas, but Elizabeth Park offers a rose-scented balm to Hartford residents. With over 15,000 fragrant bushes, the Kaman Rose Garden is one of the oldest, largest and most magnificent in the nation. This central extravagance is only one of the incredible features of the park, which also has a lily pond, elegant stone bridges and a sunrise overlook with a hill perfect for sledding. Bookworms might recognize Elizabeth Park from one of the city’s more famous insurance agents — the poet Wallace Stevens. This former resident of the West End frequented Elizabeth Park, and he immortalized the glorious landscapes in lines like “it is difficult even to choose the adjective for this blank cold, this sadness without cause,” proving that poets — despite their best efforts — can ruin a good walk better than a game of golf ever did.
Speaking of which, linksmen will certainly make a habit of visiting Keney Park, a 700-acre public space with its own 18-hole course. In the spring and summer, the pathways are edged in Queen Anne’s Lace, while autumn brings a canopy of red and gold to the game. This expansive, pastoral space was ultimately designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who famously created New York’s Central Park.
Cultural and Entertainment Venues
Hartford has many revered parks, but this city is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside…especially when winter sets in. That’s when you’ll be thankful to have so many cultural treasures to visit.
History buffs will want to pay a call to the city’s two most famous residences: the one-time homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. These American literary giants and champions of human rights and decency once called Hartford home, and their namesake museums are a fascinating stop on any historic tour.
If it’s art you’re after, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art has a collection that spans ages. You’ll find Greco-Roman antiquities, modern trailblazers and works by some of the most important artists practicing today. Hartford residents always enjoy free admission. Those who are more into dance and theatre will love The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. See the latest Broadway productions, hear your favorite comedians and authors and take the kids to shows that are destined to give them the drama bug, like Bluey’s Big Play and The Wiz.
Kids will never complain about a trip to the Connecticut Science Center. Let them dance, climb, run and wiggle their way from one big idea to the next in this hands-on space for experiential learning. Play the laser harp, tour the solar system in a space pod or crash-test a helmet — the ultimate cathartic steam-blower. Dinosaur State Park is just a short drive south of the city, and it will acquaint you with some of Hartford’s original residents. These big-footed Mesozoic monsters left some deep impressions during their time in the capital, a couple hundred million years ago. Now, you and your kiddos can see the trails they blazed in this geologic park and arboretum.
Dining and Nightlife
Every year, Hartford ups its food game, adding to its fine repertoire of favorites with new and inventive dishes. The South End has long been known for its Italian fare, but the Front Street District downtown brings the live, work, play spirit to the Riverfront. These urban dining options are perfect for pit stops during a day of sightseeing in your hometown. Grab a superfood smoothie from Rush Bowls or an indulgent, Tavern Classic from Plan B Burgers.
The Parkville Market is a family-favorite dining destination southwest of downtown. This food hall is the largest in the state, revitalizing an area that was once home to manufacturing powerhouses in the city. You’ll find Brazilian steak, poke bowls, loaded French fries and lamb shawarma in this airy, contemporary space open for brunch, cocktails and everything in between.
When you just want a beer, pay a visit to one of Hartford’s craft breweries. Lift a glass to one of America’s original wordsmiths and Hartford Native, Noah Webster, at the Dead Language Beer Project in Parkville. Pints of Paper Tiger go down without a scratch, but pay attention to the May Queen, whose 6.8% ABV packs a punch. The Thomas Hooker Brewing Company is an ode in ale form to the city’s founder, which you can drink down in a pint of Tom Lager or take a little less on the nose in their Sizzling Hippie, a Nelson Citra IPA.
Arts and Festivals
Hartford residents may not be mighty in number, but what they lack in mass they make up for in spirit. Locals have their pick of fun events throughout the year, from free concerts in Bushnell Park to blowout shows at the Xfinity Theatre and food festivals galore.
Fans of Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck and Nancy Wilson will love the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, where each of these stars once played. This free series put on its 33rd season of performances in 2024, which brought three memorable days of music to the downtown scene.
Year after year, Hartford’s Symphony Orchestra puts on some memorable shows of its own. In the fall, the annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford performs in the magnificent Trinity College Chapel, bringing the 4,416 pipes to life.
The Hartford Riverfront is a destination for music, food and entertainment. You can enjoy small group gatherings daily, taking Zumba and Tai Chi classes or treating your family to a surprise weekday picnic. But when you’re up for a crowd, gear up for a full day of fun at one of Hartford’s many festivals. The Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival brings music, dance and — most importantly — food to the capital each summer when you need a kick of spice the most. Another August favorite, the Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival sends rowers out on the rolling waters of the Connecticut River for this traditional competition and celebration of Asian and Pacific Island cultures.
In the quirkier performance realm, this year will mark the third annual edition of the Nutmeg Ukelele Festival. Hartford’s friends in Simsbury will host the homage to the Hawaiian guitar with workshops in Taylor Swift songs, baritone and even clawhammer techniques.
How to Move to Hartford
If you’ve got your heart set on Hartford, Mayflower’s long-distance movers can help you relocate from anywhere in the country. Mayflower has been the nation’s most trusted mover for nearly 100 years. Our nationwide network of professional movers is licensed for interstate moving, and we can make your cross-country move to Hartford smooth and worry-free.
Get a moving quote now for Hartford.
Finding a moving company that you can rely on is the most important step in any move. Follow these tips on researching movers.
If you’re planning a cross-country move to Hartford, Mayflower’s expert team of movers can handle all your needs. Learn about our customized, full-service moving packages, which can include packing and unpacking services, storage, debris removal, car shipping and more.
If you’re moving within the Hartford area or from another part of the state of Connecticut, Mayflower’s interstate Connecticut movers can assist you with local moves independently under their businesses and brands.
Mayflower’s moving resources are available to anyone planning a move, even if you’re going the DIY route. Our moving checklist and planner and this guide to a stress-free long-distance move will help you stay organized and relaxed throughout the relocation process
Be sure to check out the latest issue of Welcome HOME magazine for pro tips on packing and adjusting to your new home.
Are you considering multiple cities for your next move? Our state guides and city guides will give you an inside look at areas around the country.
Other Moving Tips and Guides
- Loading...