VarroExplore other towns

Hartford, CT

College town · College teaching jobs 2.2x the U.S. share

Enfield is part of the Hartford area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Hartford

Engine Co Fire Station Hartford CT
Engine Co Fire Station Hartford CT · Photo: – Grondemar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Aetna building in Hartford, Connecticut
Aetna building in Hartford, Connecticut · Photo: Sage Ross, CC BY-SA 3.0
Armsmear
Cheney Building, Hartford CT general view
Cheney Building, Hartford CT general view · Photo: H. H. Richardson (1838–1886), architect, Public domain
Cheney Building, Hartford CT main facade composite
Cheney Building, Hartford CT main facade composite · Photo: H. H. Richardson (1838–1886), architect, Public domain
Connecticut Hartford
Connecticut Hartford · Photo: Connecticut National Guard, Public domain
Connecticut Hartford
Connecticut Hartford
Connecticut State Capitol, Hartford
Connecticut State Capitol, Hartford · Photo: jglazer75, CC BY 2.0
Constitution Plaza Hartford, CT
Constitution Plaza Hartford, CT · Photo: Daderot, Public domain
Florida
Hartford, CT skyline
Hartford, CT skyline · Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
More towns near Hartford
Ranks the towns around it by your budget and what you love doing.
What locals say

Loading what residents say about Hartford...

Where it is
Hartford
Hartford in Connecticut
Connecticut in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Hartford area.

33
grocery stores
135
restaurants
18
coffee shops
119
parks
145
playgrounds
28
libraries
6
movie theaters
15
live theaters
17
museums
32
bookstores
11
gyms
13
bars
10
pharmacies
5
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of the Hartford area.

Bike lanes and bike paths
76 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
132 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 147,157 rented homes in the Hartford area, 87% rent for under $2,000 a month and 97% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 23%
$1,000 to $1,499: 39%
$1,500 to $1,999: 25%
$2,000 to $2,499: 9%
$2,500 to $2,999: 2%
$3,000 or more: 3%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Hartford area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Your first weeks in Connecticut

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Connecticut DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Connecticut voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Connecticut keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in Connecticut →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

13 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Hartford. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Connecticut State Community College · Hartford (metro)
Public, 2-year (community college) · 34,991 students · $5,092 in-state, $14,840 out-of-state
University of Connecticut · Storrs (metro)
Public, 4-year · 27,364 students · $20,366 in-state, $43,034 out-of-state
Central Connecticut State University · New Britain (metro)
Public, 4-year · 9,712 students · $12,460 in-state, $25,736 out-of-state
University of Hartford · West Hartford (metro)
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 5,913 students · $47,647 a year
Wesleyan University · Middletown (metro)
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 3,271 students · $67,016 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$402,457
What a typical home sells for across the Hartford area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
24 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,905 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CT. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Hospitals nearby
5 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
null per 100,000 people a year
232 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. CT average: 21.8 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
State income tax
Graduated, up to 6.99%
CT's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

More towns in Connecticut →