Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford cost of living
Prices in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area run at 102.7 against a national average of 100, ranking it #49 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 110.2.
What drives the number
Prices in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford run at 102.7 where the national average is 100, so about 2.7 per cent above the country as a whole. It ranks #49 of 387 metro areas. Against Connecticut as a whole it is 0.9 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 97.3, rents at 110.2, other services at 144.9. That is less common than it sounds. In most places rents sit well away from the other two, and the overall figure is really a housing figure in disguise.
A salary offer here is worth less than the same offer somewhere at 100, and the parity is the arithmetic that says by how much. Divide the offer by 102.7 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 16,520 | $38,360 | $37,352 | $34,900 |
| General and Operations Managers | 15,410 | $135,210 | $131,655 | $102,950 |
| Retail Salespersons | 14,240 | $34,780 | $33,866 | $34,580 |
| Registered Nurses | 13,850 | $101,210 | $98,549 | $93,600 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 12,160 | $40,010 | $38,958 | $37,090 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 11,360 | $39,860 | $38,812 | $38,940 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 10,950 | $33,700 | $32,814 | $30,480 |
| Cashiers | 10,310 | $33,920 | $33,028 | $31,190 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 102.7.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | 104.6 | 124.3 | #32 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | 100.4 | 93.7 | #79 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | 99.8 | 89.1 | #93 |
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford: common questions
Is Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford expensive?
Prices are 2.7% above the national average, a parity of 102.7 where the country is 100. It ranks #49 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Connecticut as a whole it is 0.9 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford?
The median worker there earns $59,270, which buys what $57,712 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 110.2 against goods at 97.3. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.