Hartford, CT downtown

2021 Top 100 Best Places to Live In America Sponsored by:

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
676
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 16
Demographics 73
Economy 77
Education 51
Health 67
Housing 25
Infrastructure 46

#69. Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT is an arts and culture heavy-hitter, home to spots like The Mark Twain House & Museum, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Founded in 1635, Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the country and serves as the Connecticut state capital. With median home prices around $172,000, Hartford’s 126,000 diverse residents enjoy a low cost of living, a wide range of housing options, access to higher education and lots of new development.

Top Colleges/Universities: University of Connecticut Hartford, Trinity College & Capital Community College 

Top Industries & Employers: Insurance, health care, education

Weekend Plans: Attending a musical, lecture, comedy show or Broadway performance at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.

Favorite Place to Feast: Salute, an intimate Italian restaurant in downtown Hartford with a great happy hour menu.

Beloved Beverage: The cocktail and punches at Little River Restoratives, an intimate bar with exposed brick walls.

Outdoorsy Activity: Learning to row (choose between sweep rowing or sculling) at the Riverfront Boathouse in Riverside Park.

Rooftop Bar: Pigs Eye Pub, a fun neighborhood bar and restaurant with a cozy second-floor patio.

Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: Your pooch will love taking long walks along the Connecticut River via the Riverwalk Trail.

Remote Work Perk: Your remote salary will go further in Hartford, which has a low cost of living while still providing easy access to other East Coast cities. 

One More Thing … Hartford’s Bushnell Park is the oldest public park in the country. Founded in 1854, the park spans 37 acres and features sculptures, art, an arboretum with more than 700 trees, a carousel and more. The park hosts more than 100 public events each year.

– Sarah Kuta

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