The Town FilesHartford, Michigan
City in Van Buren County · population 2,515 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,700
- Household income
- $42,171
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 90 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 29.7
Hartford is a city of 2,515 people in Van Buren County, Michigan. The median home is worth $108,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 78% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Hartford ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hartford is worth $108,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $42,171, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $837 a month. 64.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $837 | $955 |
| Median household income | $42,171 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hartford
| People | Hartford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 0.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Hartford
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 89.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1980 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 20, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Van Buren County since 1996
Van Buren County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Van Buren County
Van Buren County had 21,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,293 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Hartford itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Hartford
4 public schools with 1,348 students, about 19.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood Elementary | K-5 | 528 | 17.0 |
| Hartford High School | 9-12 | 385 | 17.5 |
| Hartford Middle School | 6-8 | 314 | 20.9 |
| Hartford Alternative Education | 6-12 | 121 | — |
Towns near Hartford
- Hartford, MI2.7 mi · 3,021 people · home $150,000
- Watervliet, MI4.3 mi · 3,036 people · home $154,500
- Paw Paw Lake, MI5.6 mi · 3,323 people · home $191,700
- Lawrence, MI6.1 mi · 3,289 people · home $179,500
- Coloma, MI7.2 mi · 5,051 people · home $203,700
- Covert, MI7.9 mi · 2,510 people · home $157,600
- Bainbridge, MI8.8 mi · 2,682 people · home $220,600
- Hagar, MI10.6 mi · 3,243 people · home $237,700
Hartford questions
Is Hartford, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartford scores better for retirees than 2% of Michigan towns and quieter than 18%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.7).
How much does a house cost in Hartford?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartford is valued at $108,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,171, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $837 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartford?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 89.7 inches of snow.
Does Hartford get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 13, 1980. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)