Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 5% higher in Hartford, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$973
$762
+22% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$758
+27% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$881
+32% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,121
+22% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$118,800
+45% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$43,146
+5% in Hartford, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$44,600
+26% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
34.9 yr
+1.5 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
25.7%
52.5%
+26.8 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
34.5%
+16.2 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
22.8 min
18.6 min
+4.2 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
800.3
+52% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
2,949.2
3,617.9
+23% in Huntington, WV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
55.7°F
+4.5°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
42.6 in
+1.0 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
15.4
+36% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$24.68
+6% in Huntington, WV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Huntington, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / WV)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
4.82%
+2.2 pp in CT

Hartford vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Huntington?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).