City Report · WI

Hartford

Pop. 15,821·58th most expensive in Wisconsin·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,050/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-1.7%
vs US Median
-$915
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Hartford · $1,050
More affordable than 97% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
15% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,050/mo, rent takes about 15% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$42,000/yr
Local median income
$82,014/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Hartford's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$870
1 BR
$980
2 BR
$1,170
3 BR
$1,450
4 BR+
$1,580
Research median
$1,170/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: June 22, 2026

Annual cost
$12,600/yr
At $1,050/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.7% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Hartford, WI is majority owner-occupied, 28.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
15,821
Median income
$82,014
Median age
39.1
Renters
33.9%
Age distribution
22.5%
22.3%
27%
16.9%
Under 1822.5%
18–3422.3%
35–5427%
55–6411.3%
65+16.9%
Gender
48.4%
51.6%
Male48.4%
Female51.6%
Race & ethnicity
89.5%
White89.5%
Black1.1%
Hispanic6.1%
Asian1.3%
Other2%
Education (25+)
31.7%
34%
28.8%
No HS diploma5.6%
HS diploma31.7%
Some college34%
Bachelor's+28.8%
Housing tenure
66.1%
33.9%
Owner66.1%
Renter33.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Hartford, WI has changed in 5 years

Income
$65,986 → $82,014
up 24.3%
Population
15,526 → 15,821
up 1.9%
Renter share
38% → 33.9%
-4.1 pts
Bachelor's+
28.7% → 28.8%
+0.1 pts
Median age
36.8 → 39.1
+2.3 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $82,014 today, compared with $65,986 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 15,526 to 15,821 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.9% change. About 33.9% of households rent today, against 38% in 2021.

Community

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View Hartford rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Hartford on your salary?

At $1,050/mo, how Hartford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Hartford rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Hartford. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Hartford

About renting in Hartford, WI

Last updated: June 22, 2026

The median rent in Hartford is $1,050/mo as of June 2026. A studio apartment averages $870/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,170/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $980/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,450/mo.

At 15% of local median household income ($82,014/yr), Hartford ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Hartford an affordable city for renters?

Hartford is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,050/mo, rent takes approximately 15% of the local median household income ($82,014/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Hartford falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Hartford?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $42,000/year (~$20/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,050/mo in Hartford. The local median household income is $82,014/yr, meaning the typical Hartford household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Hartford?

Rent in Hartford has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of June 2026.

How does Hartford rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Hartford is one of the more affordable cities in Wisconsin for rent, ranking #58 out of 60 tracked cities at $1,050/mo.

What percentage of Hartford residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 33.9% of Hartford households are renters, while 66.1% are owner-occupied. Hartford leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Hartford rent compare to the national average?

Hartford's median rent of $1,050/mo is $915 (47%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Wisconsin, it ranks #58 out of 60 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
15%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,050/mo, rent takes ~15% of Hartford's median household income ($82,014/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Hartford 15%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.5–7.65%
Run the Hartford affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Hartford
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Hartford, WI

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