Hartford vs Manchester
Hartford, Connecticut versus Manchester, Connecticut: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Manchester edges out Hartford on overall objective livability (44 vs 40 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Hartford | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $42k | $73k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $55k |
| Home Value | $199k | $195k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.20% | 2.49% |
| Income Tax | 6.90% | 6.90% |
| Sales Tax | 6.35% | 6.35% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 19.45% | 15.63% |
| Unemployment | 10.6% | 5.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 28°F | 28°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8 in | 50.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7 in | 51.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 185 days | 185 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 89 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 58.5 | 31.1 |
| Air Quality | 47 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1646/100k | 1918/100k |
| Property Crime | 2499/100k | 2589/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 37,015 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.74 | 0.62 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.92 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | D+25 | D+25 |
| White (%) | 14.9% | 50.9% |
| Black (%) | 34.0% | 17.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 46.1% | 22.5% |
| Asian (%) | 2.1% | 4.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 8.5/20 | 9.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 12 mi | 14 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 83.3% | 89.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 26.76 | 47.28 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hartford or Manchester more affordable?
- Manchester has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Hartford's $55k and Manchester's $55k. Median rent is $1k in Hartford versus $1k in Manchester.
- Is Hartford or Manchester safer?
- Hartford has the lower violent crime rate. Hartford reports 1646/100k and Manchester reports 1918/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Hartford or Manchester?
- The median home value is $199k in Hartford and $195k in Manchester, so homes are more affordable in Manchester.