The Town FilesHartford, Wisconsin
City in Washington County · population 15,626 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $297,100
- Household income
- $82,014
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.1
Hartford is a city of 15,626 people in Washington County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $297,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Hartford ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hartford is worth $297,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $82,014, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,110 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartford | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $297,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,110 | $951 |
| Median household income | $82,014 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Hartford
| People | Hartford | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Hartford
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1977 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 9, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Flood | DR-4892: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 58,417 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Hartford itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Hartford
5 public schools with 3,201 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford High | 9-12 | 1,364 | 16.4 |
| Central Middle | 6-8 | 504 | 15.3 |
| Lincoln Elementary | PK-5 | 469 | 12.7 |
| Rossman Elementary | PK-5 | 456 | 13.8 |
| Erin Elementary | PK-8 | 408 | 15.7 |
Towns near Hartford
- Hartford, WI1.0 mi · 3,400 people · home $366,100
- Slinger, WI5.2 mi · 5,992 people · home $367,000
- Erin, WI5.7 mi · 3,825 people · home $442,800
- Addison, WI6.5 mi · 3,464 people · home $269,000
- Ashippun, WI7.6 mi · 2,663 people · home $404,700
- Polk, WI8.6 mi · 3,988 people · home $455,300
- Richfield, WI9.2 mi · 11,739 people · home $503,400
- Jackson, WI10.7 mi · 7,185 people · home $321,500
Hartford questions
Is Hartford, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartford scores better for retirees than 13% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 5%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Hartford?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartford is valued at $297,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,014, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,110 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartford?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 36.3 inches of snow.
Does Hartford get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1977. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)