Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Hartford as a whole is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Hartford differs from Connecticut on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hartford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hartford
Making ends meet is harder in Hartford
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (37.5%), more than twice the Connecticut rate. Utility shut-off threats (19.2% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (27.8% vs 12.5%) are higher too. 31.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Hartford
53.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 70.7% across Connecticut. Among those 65 and older, 20.4% have lost all their teeth (Connecticut 9.8%). Checkups ↓
More Hartford adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.7%), vs 25.1% across Connecticut. There are 28 miles of trails across 34 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Hartford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Hartford is healthier than 10%. Against the 4,477 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 32%. Health Grade ↓
Hartford has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 6 community health centers are inside Hartford. Hartford Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Connecticut figure falls outside Hartford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Hartford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hartford is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 35% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 3%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Hartford’s median household income is $46,411; among the 4,477 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Hartford compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 121,981 residents, Hartford is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
31.6% of Hartford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hartford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
28 miles of trails across 34 parks and preserves
Care in and near Hartford
3 hospitals and 6 community health centers in Hartford, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Hartford; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Hartford adults…
Hartford runs below CT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Hartford residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Connecticut. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
How Hartford adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Hartford runs above Connecticut.
2 in 5 Hartford adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Hartford and the towns around it
Hartford’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | D | 40.4% | 15.8% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| West Hartford | — | — | — | — | |
| West Hartford | A+ | 26.8% | 9.1% | 7.3% | ZIP codes |
| Windsor | A− | 32.9% | 12.1% | 9.8% | ZIP codes |
| East Hartford | — | — | — | — | |
| East Hartford | C | 37.3% | 14.3% | 14.4% | ZIP codes |
| Wethersfield | — | — | — | — | |
| Wethersfield | A | 28.8% | 9.7% | 8.9% | ZIP 06109 |
West Hartford, East Hartford and Wethersfield: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hartford adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hartford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hartford is better than Connecticut on 1 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside Hartford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hartford | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.2%25.8–30.4 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.7–17.7 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%19–22.7 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.4%35.7–45.1 | 30.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.8%14.3–17.4 | 10.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.9%33.3–38.5 | 32% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%34.1–39.6 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.1%21.2–25.1 | 24.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.4%12.2–14.7 | 11% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.6–6.7 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.9%6.3–7.6 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.4%17.5–23.7 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.5–18.1 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.7%35.2–42.2 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.9–15.6 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.9%41–49.1 | 35.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.3%18.3–22.4 | 10% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.9–82.6 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%50.6–56.5 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.7%83–86.3 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.8%71.6–76 | 76.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%59.9–67 | 72.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%73.3–82.7 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%19.2–24.1 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.9%36.4–43.2 | 33.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.3%31.1–37.4 | 25.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 37.5%34.7–40.5 | 14.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.8%25.3–30.5 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.2%17.3–21.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.3%16.6–20.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.6%28.7–34.4 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.6%32.6–38.6 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17%15.5–18.5 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.6%17.8–21.5 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.6%8.9–10.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10.5–12.6 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.9–6.8 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Connecticut figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Hartford
Is Hartford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hartford is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hartford?
CDC estimates 40.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 45.1%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hartford?
Hartford Hospital in Hartford, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Hartford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hartford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 18.3–22.4%), against 10% across Connecticut.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Hartford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hartford.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Connecticut figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.