It's Connecticut's capital city and home to historic learning institutions and museums. It once housed notable literary icons like Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. It claims numerous amounts of "firsts", like the first municipal rose garden in the U.S., the first published children's magazine and the first photographs used for advertising purposes.
If you're pondering whether or not to make the move to Hartford, use this guide's information to help make your final decision. If you decide to make Hartford your new home, start the moving process right here at Movers.com with a free moving quote.
Hartford Climate
Hartford, like many other northern areas, has four distinct seasons, and is characterized as a humid continental climate. Rainfall is dispersed evenly throughout the year for the most part; averaging about 46 inches per year, while snowfall in the city averages about 49 inches in winter months (November through March). Winters are cold, with temperatures falling below zero a few nights out of the season.
Summers are hot and slightly humid, with temperatures averaging in the 80s; however, approximately three collective weeks out of the summer have temperatures exceeding 90 degrees.
Hartford Neighborhoods
There's diversity all over the city, from downtown's shopping, museums and historic buildings to Parkville's non-profit art space, Real Art Ways. You'll find a blend of commercial and residential, like the area of Asylum Hill that's sprinkled with insurance companies and Mark Twain's former homestead.
A large Italian community resides in the South End's "Little Italy," while college students generally reside in Blue Hills where University of Hartford is located, which also has a large Jamaican-American population. For proximity to one of the nation's oldest higher learning institutes, try out Frog Hollow where Trinity College sits.
Registering Your Car
Upon moving to Connecticut, the state gives you 60 days to transfer your vehicle registration to a Connecticut one. Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and emissions test is required. You will need a copy of this test, your out-of-state title, an application for registration, proof of insurance and proper identification when going to the DMV to register your car.
Once you are an official resident of Connecticut, you will have 30 days to transfer your out-of-state license to Connecticut. You'll need to present your out-of-state license when you make the change, and it must not be expired for more than two years. Before you are issued your license, a vision test will be administered - road tests may be waived based on the licensing agent's discretion. You will have to bring multiple forms of identification, fill out an application form along with an application fee, and pay a license fee of $72 or $84 dollars, depending on how long the license will be valid for.
Hartford Schools
For public education in the city, you'll want to look into Hartford Public Schools, with close to 50 schools including elementary, middle and high schools. Hartford Public High School is the oldest high school in the nation, and is found in Asylum Hill. The area is also home to Bulkeley High School, Global Communications Academy, Weaver High School and Sport Medical and Sciences Academy.
Hartford also claims Trinity College, one of the nation's oldest higher education facilities, as well as Capital Community College, University of Connecticut School of Business, the Hartford Seminary, University of Connecticut School of Law, Saint Joseph College School of Pharmacy and the University of Hartford.
Hartford Employment
The city has been most known for its booming insurance industry, as Aetna, Travelers, The Hartford, The Phoenix Companies as well as other well known insurance companies have their home base in Hartford. In the late 2000's, many of these large companies expanded their reach to include operations in downtown Hartford. Education and medical care and research are also big industries.
Some of the largest employers in Hartford are: United Technologies Corp. at 26,400 employees, Hartford Financial Services Group at 12,100 employees and Aetna at 7,450 employees. However, be advised that Hartford's unemployment rate is at approximately 15 percent as of early 2013 - almost double the national average. Job growth is increasingly slightly, but anyone moving to the area should keep this in mind.
Living Costs in the City
If you want to live in this city, you'll probably see an increase in your expenses, unless you move from New York City, New Jersey, or any other larger metropolitan area with high rent and property taxes. The average cost of living index is almost 24 percent greater than the national average, with utilities and groceries being the highest of these expenses.
Houses are slightly cheaper on average in the Hartford area in comparison with other cities in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, but can range anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000. One-bedroom apartments typically start around $700, but can go up to $1,200 per month.
In the state of Connecticut, you will pay state income taxes, property taxes and personal taxes for all the vehicles you own as well. Trash and sewer services can run approximately $90 per month, electric anywhere from $80 to $300 depending on usage and size of the home, and gas will add anywhere from $25 to $50 to your utility expenses. If you add phone lines, high-speed internet, or any other amenities your living costs will go up another $100-$200 as well.
Hartford Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Hartford, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Connecticut. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Hartford Transportation
If you're in need of public transportation, Hartford has a city bus service system that runs out of the station at One Union Place, as well as interstate bus service provided by Peter Pan Bus and Greyhound Bus. Amtrak provides the train service, also located at Union Station (One Union Place), from Hartford to Vermont and southbound to New Haven. The station also has connections to New York, Providence, Boston and Washington D.C.
The major highways keeping the city afloat for commuter purposes are Interstate 84, Interstate 90 and Interstate 91. I-91 runs from New Haven along the Connecticut River and intersects with downtown Hartford. Route 2 passes through Norwich, and the Wilbur Cross Highway goes around the southern part of the city.
For the cyclists, there's a bicycle route that runs through the center of the city, which is connected to the East Coast Greenway - a 3,000-mile bike route that runs from the Florida Keys to Maine.
Culture & Contemporary Life
Over 100,000 people call the downtown business district their place of work, amongst the local universities' college student population, giving the area a diverse and exciting contemporary life. You'll find plenty of places downtown to keep you entertained, like the HartfordStage professional theater, Real Art Ways' innovative art and films, and the XL Center venue for sports and live entertainment. You can go see the annual riverboat festival on the Riverfront, as well as the 4th of July fireworks.
The North End of the city holds the world's first Cricket Hall of Fame and the West Indian Social club that holds regular reggae concerts in conjunction with traditional Caribbean and Jamaican cuisine. For even more exotic food, head to the Meat House in Avon, which has meats like boar and ostrich.
If you're not into standard sports like biking or golfing, or you don't like watching the New England Patriots or the Boston Red Sox, you can play "WhirlyBall." Just outside of Hartford is a venue where you and you friends or family can hop into bumper cars and play a lacrosse/basketball hybrid game, even past midnight.
Hartford Relocation Tips
- Research and secure employment before relocating to Hartford. While jobs are out there, the high unemployment rate makes these jobs coveted by locals.
- Adjust to the weather. If you're from an area that doesn't change much seasonally, you'll want to acquire a wardrobe that suits each season (i.e. shorts and t-shirts in addition to snow boots and a down jacket).
- You're in New England now, where they call sandwiches "grinders." Get to know your local terminology and phrases!