Is Hartford, CT a Safe Place to Live?

If you’re considering a move to Hartford, you may be asking yourself is Hartford, CT a safe place to live?

There have been some mildly concerning reports circulating about the safety and livability of Hartford. So today, we’re going to dig into the data and answer this complicated question.

Is Hartford, CT a Safe Place to Live?

To decide if Hartford is a safe place to live, we need to look at several factors:

• How many crimes are committed in Hartford, CT?
• How does the number of crimes compare to the total number of residents?
• And how do these numbers compare to other cities?

But first, can we all agree that “safety” is somewhat subjective? 

Connecticut is the eighth safest state in America. So we’re all very safe compared to the rest of the country and most of the world. This makes us a little extra sensitive to any area that doesn’t meet our high standards of safety.   

Try to keep that in mind as we look at some numbers.

How many crimes are committed in Hartford, CT?

Here are the most recent crime stats from the FBI (keeping in mind that these are reported crimes and there is room for error in the FBI’s data):

In 2018, there were 681 violent crimes and 2,311 property crimes reported in Hartford. And in 2019, there were 505 violent crimes and 1,644 property crimes. Notice how much crime declined from 2018 to 2019! Regardless of how you feel about the numbers, Hartford is certainly moving in the right direction.

How does the number of crimes compare to the total number of residents?

In 2018, the population of Hartford was 123,117 according to the FBI database. The database did not have updated population data for 2019, so we’ll have to assume it was about the same. 

Comparing the number of crimes to the population, we find that:

• In 2018, there were 553 violent crimes and 1,877 property crimes per 100,000 people.
• In 2019, there were 410 violent crimes and 1,335 property crimes per 100,000 people.

How do these numbers compare to other cities?

Unfortunately, the FBI hasn’t published a nation-wide average for easy comparison, but let’s look at the numbers for one of the safest cities in the country and one of the most dangerous. Using the same FBI data, 

• Ventura, CA (one of the safest cities in the U.S.) had 218 violent crimes and 1,553 property crimes per 100,000 people in 2019.
• Memphis, TN (one of the least-safe cities in the U.S.) had 956 violent crimes and 2,927 property crimes per 100,000 people in 2019.

Hartford, CT’s crime stats are much closer to Ventura than to Memphis!

What if I still want a safer neighborhood?

You know what’s best for you. If you’re not comfortable living in Hartford, you can always widen your search to nearby neighborhoods. You don’t have to go far from Hartford to find some exceptionally safe areas like:

1. West Hartford
2. Avon
3. Simsbury
4. Farmington
5. Glastonbury

So, question: is Hartford, CT a safe place to live?

Answer: Hartford, CT is a reasonably safe place to live and getting safer. 

When you’re ready to make your move to the Hartford area, contact me. As a local real estate expert, I can help you find a neighborhood you’ll be comfortable calling home!