CostIndexUSA

Hartford, CT vs Racine, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
Hartford
102.7
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Racine
96
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Racine is moderately cheaper than Hartford — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hartford, you would need $74,800 in Racine. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing16.5%
Hartford
110.2
Racine
92
🛒 Groceries3.6%
Hartford
97.3
Racine
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.2%
Hartford
107.8
Racine
104.4
🏥 Healthcare3.2%
Hartford
97.5
Racine
94.4
Utilities37.9%
Hartford
144.9
Racine
90

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Hartford to see what you'd need to earn in Racine to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Racine, WI
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in Racine

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 102.7) = salary × 0.9348. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Hartford, CT

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
110.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Racine, WI

Median Home Price
$293,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
92
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Hartford has 16.5% lower housing costs compared to Racine.

Income & Job Market

Hartford, CT

Median Household Income
$92,200
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
121,054
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentEducation

Racine, WI

Median Household Income
$74,000
Per Capita Income
$42,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
78,900
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Hartford, CT
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Racine, WI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.