City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Hartford, WI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Hartford - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

15,761
Residents
$74,252
Median income
$261,300
Median home
$1,338
Median rent (state)

Hartford - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hartford places in the 55th percentile for household income and the 71st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

55th
percentile, household income
58th
percentile, home value
49th
percentile, median rent
71st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Hartford, WI

15,761 people live in Hartford, Wisconsin - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Hartford brings in $74,252 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.7%. Typical homes in Hartford are valued around $261,300, and the median resident age is 38.6 years. About 29.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 67.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 39 residential building permits were authorized in Hartford (Construction Slowdown), down 70% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Hartford reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 820.9 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Wisconsin at 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,338 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Workers in Hartford report an average commute of 22.1 minutes, with 77.4% driving alone and 13.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 68.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

15,761 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$74,252 /yr

Poverty 7.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Hartford compare to other US cities?

Hartford measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 55% higher than other cities
Home value 58% pricier than other cities
Median rent 49% pricier than other cities
Safety 71% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Wisconsin, Hartford ranks #88 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Hartford's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Wisconsin, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

55thIncome percentile
71stSafety percentile

55th percentile nationally for median household income · 71st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Hartford's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Hartford's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 58 Avg. percentile National median
Hartford's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Hartford's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$261,300 42nd percentile more affordable than 42% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Hartford $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Hartford, WI Hartford, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hartford, WI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Hartford, WI median $74,252/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Hartford, WI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Hartford, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
15,761
Median Income
$74,252
Median Home Value
$261,300
Median Age
38.6
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Labor force participation
67.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
820.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
131.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
689.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,600 residents15,800 residents16,000 residents16,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,654 residents 16,005 residents ▲ +2.2%
Hartford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
39
housing units authorized
Single-Family
17
detached homes
Multifamily
22
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 132
2020 56
2021 59
2022 59
2023 52
2024 39

Permit volume decreased 70% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.1 minutes
Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
6.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
13.3%
Other
0.7%

Based on 8,350 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wisconsin - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Hartford sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,338/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.3 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Weston
15,784 people
Whitewater
15,705 people
Pewaukee
16,002 people
Bellevue
16,255 people
River Falls
16,349 people
Hudson
15,004 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hartford's 15,761 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Overland, MO
15,762 people
Wailuku, HI
15,754 people
Jamestown, ND
15,774 people
Rutland, VT
15,747 people
Gulf Shores, AL
15,785 people
Westbury, NY
15,789 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hartford's $74,252 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Petaluma Center, CA
$74,250 median income
Berkshire Lakes, FL
$74,250 median income
Granite Falls, NC
$74,250 median income
Sunset, UT
$74,250 median income
Kennett Square, PA
$74,259 median income
Machesney Park, IL
$74,244 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hartford, WI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Hartford, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.5% White 92.0% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 4.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Hartford compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Hartford (this city) 15,761 $74,252
Weston 15,784 $75,565
Whitewater 15,705 $49,000
Pewaukee 16,002 $112,093
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hartford, WI?

What is the population of Hartford, WI? +

15,761 people live in Hartford, WI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hartford, WI? +

The median household income in Hartford is $74,252 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hartford? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hartford; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Is Hartford, WI safe? +

Hartford has a total crime rate of 820.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Hartford, WI? +

Homes in Hartford carry a median value of $261,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.