Relocation profile · Federal data
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
BEA RPP 102.7 ranks #339 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 102.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,865
- 2BR rent / mo
- $77,770
- Median salary
- 58.7
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford ranks #73 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (58.7/100), with its strongest marks in low hazard and job market.
- #73
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 3,675,069
- metro-area population
- 139
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,005
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: housing (12/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford ranks #73 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 102.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,865/mo, median salary $77,770; LiveAbility Score 58.7/100, strongest in low hazard and job market.
Signature: BEA RPP 102.7 ranks #339 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 102.7 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,865/mo.
LiveAbility 58.7/100 puts Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford in the top third (#73 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford area is 587,310.
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
59 Top 20% higher than 80% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford MSA; housing RPP 110.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,865/mo.
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford wages and employment
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford posts 587,310 total employment with median salary $77,770 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $39,620 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,720 |
| Registered Nurses | $101,470 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,730 |
| General and Operations Managers | $148,080 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford's composite Life Score is 41.3/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford ranks #73 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 58.7/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Low hazard
Low hazard
99 /100
- Job market
Job market
94 /100
- Safety
Safety
91 /100
- Schools
Schools
91 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
72 /100
- Climate 21
Climate
21 /100
- Cost of living 12
Cost of living
12 /100
- Housing 12
Housing
12 /100
What this shows Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford's strongest dimensions are low hazard and job market; its weakest among scored dims is housing at 12/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford to
Metros near Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Similar LiveAbility score
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford?
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford runs a $77,770 median salary at a 102.7 cost index, ranking #73 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.