Hartford, Connecticut

What's the cost of living in Hartford, CT?

Daily expenses, such as groceries, health care and transportation, are higher than the national average. But the median home sale price in Hartford is lower than the national median. 

What's the best way to get around Hartford, CT?

In the city proper, people can easily move around by bus, and during the warmer months, by bike and on foot. The farther you venture from downtown, though, the harder it becomes to get around without a car.

Even so, public transit is definitely on the rise. The CTfastrak bus system supplies expedited service around downtown Hartford and to nearby New Britain via a bus-only freeway. A partnership among the Connecticut state government, Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration provides commuter rail service between Hartford, New Haven and Springfield, Massachusetts.

For those looking to get away, Bradley International Airport – New England's second-busiest airport – is just north of Hartford in Windsor Locks. Amtrak's Northeast Regional line offers train service to nearby suburbs, such as Windsor, Berlin and Meriden, as well as to metro areas farther out, including New Haven, Springfield, Massachusetts, Boston and New York City.

Who lives in Hartford, CT?

Connecticut's population is unquestionably aging, and that trend is visible in Hartford. Additionally, more senior citizens are staying in the workforce longer, increasing the average age of the area's working population.

Hartford is also seeing slow but steady growth in its immigrant population, with new residents bringing their cultures and traditions to the area. The Frog Hollow neighborhood is home to a thriving Hispanic community, while the suburban town of New Britain has been celebrating its Polish heritage for decades.

Just about half of Hartford's residents are religious, and Hartford's diverse population means that people of myriad faiths can find a community. Many residents identify as Catholic, or with one of a number of different Christian sects, although Judaism, Islam and other Eastern religions are represented as well.

What is there to do in Hartford, CT?

As one of the oldest metro regions in the nation, Hartford presents a fair number of opportunities to learn about U.S. history and culture. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art has been showcasing ancient antiquities and European and American paintings since the mid-1800s. Literature buffs can tour the historic homes of authors Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Meanwhile, performance spaces, galleries and nightclubs help round out the cultural landscape. Food choices range from Brazilian to Asian fusion, and any guilt from the rich cuisine can be worked off on ski slopes or hiking trails throughout the Connecticut River Valley.