In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Hartford is $247,100, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, against $396,900 for Connecticut. The City’s HouseHartford program offers buyers up to 20% of the price, capped at $40,000. Parts of Hartford are CHFA target areas, which carry higher state loan limits.
How much homes cost in Hartford
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Connecticut home prices explains the method in detail.
| Area | Median value, 2024 (ACS) | Margin of error (90%) |
|---|---|---|
| City of Hartford | $247,100 | ±$25,220 |
| Capitol Planning Region | $360,400 | ±$5,315 |
| Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford metro area | $367,100 | ±$4,786 |
| Connecticut | $396,900 | ±$3,745 |
| United States | $360,600 | ±$618 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The Capitol Planning Region stands in for Hartford County, which has no estimate in the 2024 tables. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.
The city’s median is $149,800 below the state’s. The suburbs pull the metro figure up. The city’s margin of error is wide (±$25,220), so treat the figure as a range from about $221,900 to $272,300.
Are Hartford prices rising?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford metro area, published August 25, 2026, shows:
| Area | 1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026) | 5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford metro area | +4.4% | +51.3% |
| Connecticut | +4.7% | +49.6% |
| United States | +2.1% | +33.4% |
Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.
Prices in the Hartford area rose about twice as fast as the nation’s over the past year. The index covers the whole metro area, not only the city.
Closing costs, taxes and legal steps
Closing costs come on top of the price. They include lender fees, the appraisal, the survey and title work, and several of them depend on the loan and the providers you choose. Our Connecticut articles explain the rules, so we do not repeat figures here:
- Closing costs in Connecticut and the transfer tax
- Property tax in Connecticut
- Seller disclosure in Connecticut
- Do you need a real estate attorney in Connecticut?
- Foreclosure in Connecticut
To see how property tax can be paid through your monthly mortgage payment, read our guide to escrow accounts.
Help for Hartford buyers
The City of Hartford’s Department of Development Services runs the homebuyer programs below. The City’s pages do not list the income figures or forgiveness terms, so ask the City or a participating lender for the current ones.
| Program | What it offers |
|---|---|
| HouseHartford | Down payment assistance of up to 20% of the purchase price, capped at $40,000, for low- and moderate-income buyers of one- to four-family homes and condominiums in the city. Income may not exceed HUD limits based on 80% of the Hartford-area median family income. |
| Employee Homebuyer Assistance Program | No-interest, forgivable loans for down payments and closing costs, for eligible City of Hartford and Hartford Board of Education employees. |
| Housing Choice Voucher to Homeownership pilot | A match of up to $4,000 on at least $1,000 saved, plus a repair reserve of up to $4,000, for participants in the city’s voucher program. |
Source: City of Hartford, Department of Development Services.
At the $247,100 median, 20% of the price would be $49,420, so the $40,000 cap applies.
State help comes from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). For CHFA’s Make it Yours program, the sales price limit as of June 22, 2026, is $692,210 in Hartford’s target-area census tracts and $566,350 elsewhere in the Capitol region. CHFA’s Time To Own program offers a forgivable loan of up to $25,000. Details and a comparison are on our page about first-time buyer programs in Connecticut.
Connecticut guides for Hartford buyers
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Hartford?
The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Hartford at $247,100 (±$25,220). This is what owners think their home is worth, not the median sale price of recent sales.
Are home prices in Hartford going up?
According to the FHFA purchase-only index, prices in the Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford metro area rose 4.4% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Over five years, they rose 51.3%.
Why is Hartford cheaper than the rest of Connecticut?
The ACS median for the city ($247,100) is below the Capitol Planning Region ($360,400) and the state ($396,900). The data show the gap but do not explain it. Home values vary a lot between the city and its suburbs, so check the town you are considering.
Does Hartford help first-time buyers?
Yes. The City’s HouseHartford program offers up to 20% of the purchase price, capped at $40,000, to eligible low- and moderate-income buyers of homes in the city. CHFA offers state programs on top of the first mortgage.
Where can I find more on taxes and closing costs?
See our Connecticut articles on closing costs, transfer tax and property tax. They give the state rules and rates.
More Connecticut guides
- Closing costs in Connecticut: what buyers and sellers pay
- Connecticut real estate conveyance tax: rates and who pays
- Connecticut property tax: mill rates, assessment and Hartford
- Seller disclosure requirements in Connecticut
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Connecticut?
- Foreclosure process in Connecticut
- Home prices in Connecticut and Hartford: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Connecticut: CHFA and Hartford
- How to verify a real estate license in Connecticut
Sources
- Table B25077, Median Value (Dollars), ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2025 ACS Data Release Schedule (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- U.S. House Prices Rise 2.1 Percent Year over Year, Up 0.3 Percent Quarter over Quarter (FHFA, August 25, 2026) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA House Price Index datasets, quarterly purchase-only indexes (state, metro) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Homebuyer Assistance, HouseHartford (City of Hartford, Department of Development Services) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Housing Division (City of Hartford, Department of Development Services) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Make it Yours (Bond): Sales Price and Income Limits, Target Areas, Rev. 6-22-26 (CHFA) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Time To Own - Forgivable Down Payment Assistance Program Loan (CHFA) (consulted October 13, 2026)