Study Lists Hartford Among the Worst State Capitals in U.S. for 2025

Have you ever had any desire to live in Hartford? Our state Capital has the major attractions that some of our bigger city's lack, but to most it still seems like a boring insurance hub. According to a new study, as far as the 50 state Capitals in the US, Hartford is among the worst for 2025.

Get our free mobile app

Hartford is the fourth largest city in Connecticut in population behind Bridgeport, New Haven, and Stamford. It's been our Capital since 1875, and before that we had duel Capitals in Hartford and New Haven. The largest performance venues in the state - XL and Xfinity Center are here, killer museums and restaurants, but the nightlife has seen better decades. Culture, entertainment, cuisine, and all of the main decision makers of Connecticut in one place, Hartford should be superior in every way, but according to WalletHub.com's new study Best State Capitals to Live in (2025), Hartford ranks at #45 out of 50.

To arrive at their rankings, WalletHub compared all 50 US Capitals across four key dimensions: Affordability, Economic Well-Being, Quality of Education & Health, and Quality of Life. Those were further evaluated using 48 relevant metrics like cost of living, violent crime rates, share of population living in poverty, cultural attractions, access to public transportation, and good weather days among the 48.

WalletHub's study shows that Hartford has the lowest Median Household Income Adjust to Cost of Living in the US for 2025, ranking #50. Hartford also has the #45th Highest Unemployment Rate, ranked #49 in Percentage of Population in Poverty with 27%. Hartford ranked well in the metric Debt as % of Median Income, coming in at #2, and ranked as the #3 Capital in Average Work Week Hours.

For 2025, WalletHub has ranked Dover, DE, Baton Rouge, LA, Jackson, MS, Trenton, NJ, and Augusta, ME as the Capitals worse for 2025. The best? Austin, Texas, Madison, Wisconsin, and Raleigh, NC.