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Living in
Hartford.
About
Life in Hartford
Living in Hartford means settling into a solid midwestern community of about 16,000 people that's genuinely affordable compared to Milwaukee, which is less than 40 miles away. The median home value hovers around $297,000 and median household income sits at $82,014, which gives you real purchasing power—especially if you're coming from pricier metros—and the job market is tight with unemployment at just 2.6%. The city sits on the outer edge of the Milwaukee metro area, so you get that small-town feel without being completely cut off; your commute to actual Milwaukee jobs averages about 25 minutes, which isn't bad for suburban living.
Hartford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
92.2%
of households
Population Growth
+2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hartford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hartford, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.6%), and 2.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.6%
of households
Married Couples
47.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WI
Rent, home values, and income in Hartford
In Hartford, home values are 11% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,413
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $380,552 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WI average
Unemployment in Hartford
Unemployment in Washington County, which includes Hartford, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Hartford: Washington County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Washington County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hartford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.8 min avg
How Hartford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hartford, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 35 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 95 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 57% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hartford runs 57% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
143.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
634.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hartford Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
68.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes Hartford, the most common type is winter weather, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | $6.8M |
| 2024 | 19 | Winter Weather | $47,000 |
| 2023 | 13 | Winter Weather | $29,000 |
| 2022 | 26 | Winter Weather | $928,500 |
| 2021 | 16 | Winter Weather | $23,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | Winter Weather | $13,000 |
| 2019 | 25 | Winter Weather | $16,000 |
| 2018 | 24 | Winter Weather | $611,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washington County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dodge County, WI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 18 miles from Hartford) is typically good — 264 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
264
per year
Moderate Days
94
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Dodge County, WI (18 mi away)
Climate78°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hartford has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/33°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
29°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.1"
Annual Snowfall
36.3"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
159
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 9°F | 1.52" |
| Feb | 30°F | 11°F | 1.26" |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 1.78" |
| Apr | 54°F | 33°F | 3.43" |
| May | 67°F | 44°F | 3.82" |
| Jun | 77°F | 54°F | 4.77" |
| Jul | 80°F | 58°F | 3.89" |
| Aug | 79°F | 56°F | 3.74" |
| Sep | 72°F | 48°F | 3.23" |
| Oct | 59°F | 37°F | 2.91" |
| Nov | 44°F | 26°F | 2.06" |
| Dec | 31°F | 15°F | 1.68" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hartford
Hartford has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Aurora Medical Ctr Washington County
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Josephs Community Hospital West Bend
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · West Bend
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hartford
Hartford's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 75 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hartford
Hartford has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (75 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hartford
Jack Russell Memorial Library
100 Park Ave., Hartford
Cities Near Hartford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hartford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hartford FAQ
Is Hartford, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Hartford's median rent is $1,110/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $82,014/year. Median home value is $297,100.
Is Hartford, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Hartford's violent crime rate was 143 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 635 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hartford, Wisconsin?⌄
Washington County, which includes Hartford, has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hartford, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Hartford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,110/month and median household income is $82,014/year. The median home value is $297,100. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hartford, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Hartford is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from