Hartford, CT Local Data & Statistics

State: CT

Total population: 121,127 Household income: $46,411 Rent: $1,269

Overview

Total population

121,127

Rent

$1,269

Year built

1951

Household income

$46,411

Per capita income

$27,841

Poverty rate

26.3%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

55%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Connecticut

Total population

121,127

Adults over 25

76,438

Total households

49,028

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$46,411

Per capita income

$27,841

Poverty rate

26.3%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Rent over 30% of income

55%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,269

Year built

1951

Households that rent

74.3%

Households that own

25.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

24.2%

Black

35.8%

Asian

2.5%

Two or more races

18.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

44.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

55.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

90.6%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

9.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

36%

High school graduate or GED

33%

Some college or associate degree

11.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

19.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Hartford, CT with: Connecticut United States

Hartford, CT

Total population121,127

Rent$1,269

Year built1951

Household income$46,411

Per capita income$27,841

Poverty rate26.3%

Unemployment rate4.3%

Connecticut State

Total population3,624,508

Rent$1,488

Year built1967

Household income$95,781

Per capita income$55,915

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate3.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityHartford, CT	StateConnecticut	CountryUnited States
Total population	121,127	3,624,508	334,922,499
Rent	$1,269	$1,488	$1,413
Year built	1951	1967	1980
Household income	$46,411	$95,781	$80,734
Per capita income	$27,841	$55,915	$44,673
Poverty rate	26.3%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	3.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Hartford, CT, Connecticut and United States →

Summary for Hartford, CT

Hartford is located in Connecticut.

Rent & Income

In Hartford, the typical monthly rent is $1,269 and the typical household income is $46,411. Rent here is lower than in both Connecticut and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 26.3%, which is higher than in both Connecticut and national.

Housing & Affordability

Most households in this area are renters (74.3%), making this a heavily renter area. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 19.4% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is higher than both Connecticut and the national rate.

Hartford, CT — Rent vs Household Income

Hartford, CT — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Hartford, CT compares in Connecticut (11 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,269	3 / 11	from lower rent	$1,225 – $2,276
Household income	$46,411	11 / 11	from higher income	$46,411 – $111,586
Poverty rate	26.3%	11 / 11	from lower poverty	9.1% – 26.3%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	11 / 11	from lower unemployment	2.3% – 4.3%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Connecticut with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Hartford, CT

Rent

Rent prices put Hartford in 3rd place among 11 large communities in Connecticut. Across Connecticut, rents range from $1,225 in Waterbury, CT up to $2,276 in Stamford, CT.

Household income

For median household income, Hartford is ranked 11th out of 11 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $46,411 in Hartford, CT to $111,586 in Stamford, CT.

Poverty rate

Hartford places 11th out of 11 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 9.1% in Norwalk, CT up to 26.3% in Hartford, CT.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Hartford in 11th place among 11 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.3% in Danbury, CT to 4.3% in Hartford, CT.

💰 Rent in Hartford, CT (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,269 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Hartford, CT

Annual Household Income: $46,411

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Hartford, CT

Estimated Rate: 26.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Hartford, CT

In Hartford, CT, households that rent: 36,432 (74.3%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	36,432	74.3%
Owner-Occupied	12,596	25.7%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Hartford, CT

In Hartford, CT, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 20,049 (55%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	20,049	55%
Other renter households	16,383	45%
Total renter households	36,432	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Hartford, CT

Less than High School: 27,511 people (36%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 25,224 people (33%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 8,874 people (11.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 14,829 people (19.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 76,438

📊 Unemployment Rate in Hartford, CT

Estimated Rate: 4.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Ann Arbor, MI121,179 Lafayette, LA121,537 Rochester, MN121,638 Independence, MO121,944 Berkeley, CA120,223 Fairfield, CA119,985 College Station, TX122,280 Clovis, CA122,719 West Palm Beach, FL119,508 Arvada, CO122,835

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.