Downtown
550 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103
Living in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of Connecticut, on the west bank of the Connecticut River in Hartford County. Settled in 1635 and incorporated as a city in 1784, it has been the state's sole capital since 1875. The insurance industry has been centered here for generations, and downtown sits alongside Bushnell Park, the first public park in the country funded entirely by public money.
Hartford at a glance
- $275,000Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
- 69.95 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 45–55 minDrive to New Haven
- HartfordCounty · Capitol Planning Region
Hartford's villages and zip codes
Hartford uses multiple ZIP codes in the 061xx series depending on neighborhood.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | 06103 | The city's civic and business center, next to Bushnell Park and the State Capitol. |
| Asylum Hill | 06105 | A neighborhood northwest of downtown with the Mark Twain House and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. |
| Frog Hollow | 06106 | A neighborhood south of downtown along Park Street. |
Hartford covers about 17.38 square miles and borders West Hartford, Newington, Wethersfield, East Hartford, Bloomfield, South Windsor, Glastonbury and Windsor. It was incorporated in 1784.
Things to do in Hartford, CT
Start with Mark Twain House & Museum and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, then 2 more below.
Mark Twain House & Museum
The Victorian Gothic house where Mark Twain lived from 1874 to 1891 and wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Guided tours are required to see the interior.
Hartford, CT
Plan a visitWadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Founded in 1842, it's the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the United States, with roughly 50,000 works including Greek and Roman antiquities and Impressionist paintings.
600 Main St, Hartford, CT
Plan a visitBushnell Park
A 37-acre downtown park next to the State Capitol, and the first public park in the United States paid for entirely with public funds. It has a working 1914 carousel, one of only a few of its kind still operating.
Downtown Hartford, CT
Plan a visitConnecticut State Capitol
The seat of Connecticut's state government, overlooking Bushnell Park.
210 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT
More worth a visit
- Harriet Beecher Stowe CenterThe former home of the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, next to the Mark Twain House.
- XL CenterDowntown's arena, home to UConn basketball games and concerts.
A little history
Hartford was settled in October 1635 and incorporated as a city on May 29, 1784.
The city alternated with New Haven as one of Connecticut's two capitals starting in 1664 and has been the sole capital since 1875.
Hartford has long been a center of the insurance industry, and for several decades after the Civil War was among the wealthiest cities in the country.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Hartford
The Connecticut River runs along Hartford's eastern edge, and Bushnell Park anchors green space downtown near the Capitol.
- Bushnell ParkA 37-acre park downtown with an arboretum of native and rare trees and a historic carousel.More information
- Riverfront along the Connecticut RiverRiverfront Recapture manages parks and trails along the Connecticut River in Hartford.
- Pope ParkA city park with recreation facilities, including the Samuel V. Arroyo Recreation Center.
Where to eat in Hartford: restaurants and coffee
3 places in Hartford to try, including italian restaurant and american restaurant. No one paid to be listed.
Salute Restaurant
Italian restaurant
An Italian restaurant in downtown Hartford.
100 Trumbull St, Hartford, CT · salutehartford.com
The Foundry
American restaurant
A restaurant on the 20th floor of the One State Street building with views of downtown and the Connecticut River, which opened in March 2025.
One State St, Hartford, CT
Max Downtown
American restaurant
An American restaurant in downtown Hartford.
Hartford, CT
Walkability and getting around Hartford
Downtown Hartford and neighborhoods like Asylum Hill and Frog Hollow are walkable for errands and dining, but many residential areas of the city are built around car use, and having a car makes reaching surrounding towns far easier.
Drive times
- New Haven, about 40 miles45–55 min
- Bradley International Airport, about 12 miles15–20 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Hartford is served by CTfastrak bus rapid transit, CTtransit local and express bus routes, and Hartford Union Station, which connects to CTrail Hartford Line trains between New Haven and Springfield as well as Amtrak's Northeast Regional, Vermonter and Valley Flyer trains.
Hartford property taxes and home prices
Hartford's 2026–27 mill rate is 69.95, which is $69.95 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $4,896 a year in taxes at 69.95 mills.
What homes in Hartford sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $265,250170 sales | $95,000132 sales |
| Sep 2025 | $275,000199 sales | $92,500116 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Hartford's mill rate for 2026–27
69.95mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Hartford69.95 mills
- Park Street Special Services District (where it applies)+3.50 mills
- Columbia Street & Park Terrace Special Services District (where it applies)+2.30 mills
- Hartford Business Improvement District SSD (where it applies)+1.729 mills
- Motor vehicles32.46 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2026
How Hartford's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 68.95 |
| 2023–24 | 68.95 |
| 2024–25 | 68.95 |
| 2025–26 | 68.95 |
| 2026–27 | 69.95 |
Hartford's town rate went from 68.95 in 2022–23 to 69.95 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2026.
Look up a Hartford property
- Property record cardsAssessed value, lot size and building details
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
- Assessor's officeQuestions about an assessment
Buying a home in Hartford
What we check on a Hartford purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map, condos and river flood zones.
First-time buyer programs in Hartford
CHFA sets Hartford's income and price limits for Hartford County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
The Connecticut River runs along Hartford's eastern border, and low-lying areas near the river, including parts of the South Meadows and North Meadows, fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for HartfordCondo financing needs FHA/VA approval
Hartford has a number of condominium buildings and conversions; if you're financing a condo with FHA or VA, we confirm the building carries current approval before you go too far into a purchase.
Check the flood map near the river
Parts of Hartford near the Connecticut River, including sections of the South Meadows and North Meadows, sit in FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Hartford?
Send us a Hartford address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Hartford: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Hartford: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasEversource Gas / Connecticut Natural Gas
- WaterMetropolitan District Commission (MDC)
- Sewer or septicPublic sewer serves the city
- Trash and recyclingThe city provides curbside trash and recycling collection; residents should check the city's collection schedule by address.
Town offices and contacts
Hartford Town Hall is at 550 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Main line: 860-757-9311. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website860-757-9311
- Town and City ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.860-757-9750
- Office of the Tax AssessorProperty values and assessments.
- Office of the Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and collection.
- Parks and RecreationCity parks, playgrounds and recreation centers.
- Public WorksStreets, sanitation and city infrastructure.
- Hartford Public LibraryPublic library system with multiple branches including Albany, Barbour, Camp Field, Dwight, Park Street Library @ the Lyric, and SAND/Ropkins.
- Hartford Public SchoolsHartford's public school district.
Hartford, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Hartford, CT?
Hartford's 2026–27 mill rate is 69.95, which is $69.95 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. The motor vehicle rate is 32.46 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Hartford?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 69.95 mills that's about $24,482 a year, or about $2,040 a month, before any district tax. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
What is the median home price in Hartford, CT?
In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Hartford was $275,000 across 199 sales, compared with $265,250 the year before. The median condo sale was $92,500 across 116 sales.
When is Hartford's next revaluation?
Hartford's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2026, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2027.
What county is Hartford in?
Hartford is in Hartford County and is part of the Capitol Planning Region.
How far is Hartford from Bradley International Airport?
Bradley is about 12 miles from downtown Hartford, roughly 15–20 minutes by car.
Is there train service in Hartford?
Yes. Hartford Union Station connects to CTrail Hartford Line trains between New Haven and Springfield, plus Amtrak's Northeast Regional, Vermonter and Valley Flyer trains.
What is CTfastrak?
CTfastrak is Connecticut's bus rapid transit system, running on a dedicated busway between downtown Hartford and New Britain and connecting to local CTtransit routes.
Where is Hartford's town hall?
Hartford City Hall is at 550 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103.
Towns near Hartford
Neighbors of Hartford in Hartford County and nearby. All Hartford County towns.
Sources
- Mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "Mill Rates for FY 2014–2027," data.ct.gov. Revaluation year: OPM, Revaluation Schedule 2023–2037.
- Home sales: "Real Estate Sales 2001–2024 GL," data.ct.gov. Medians use Hartford sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Wikipedia: Hartford, Connecticut: en.wikipedia.org
- City of Hartford official website: hartfordct.gov
- Mark Twain House & Museum: marktwainhouse.org
- Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art: thewadsworth.org
- Bushnell Park: bushnellpark.org
- CTfastrak - CTtransit: cttransit.com
- Hartford Union Station - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Hartford Public Library: hplct.org
- Wikimedia Commons: Hartford, CT skyline (cropped).jpg: commons.wikimedia.org
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.