Hartford city, Connecticut Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Hartford city is a major urban center located in Connecticut. The total population is 119,970. It ranks as the 4th most populous out of 215 cities and towns in Connecticut.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hartford city is 33.4 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 41.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hartford city is $45,300. This is 52% lower than the state median of $93,760. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 42% lower. The poverty rate stands at 25.5%. This is 154% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 10.6%. This is 87% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $217,200. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $343,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 25.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 61% lower than the state average of 66.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hartford city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 33.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (16.0%) is well below the state average of 63.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (33.8% vs 9.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (44.8% vs 17.8%). The Asian population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 41.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 74.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hartford city, Connecticut is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Connecticut state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 215 Census-designated places in Connecticut. For official data, visit data.census.gov.