City comparison
Hartford, CT vs Norwich, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Hartford, CT are 2.3% higher than in Norwich, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Norwich, CT would need about $102,300 in Hartford, CT to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,477 a month in Hartford, CT and $1,496 in Norwich, CT.
- Both are in CT, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,925 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $120,094 in either. A transfer from Hartford, CT to Norwich, CT changes real buying power by +2.3%, purely from prices.
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (pricier)
- Norwich, CT: price level 100.4 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Hartford, CT | Norwich, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.7 | 100.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,760 in Norwich | $102,291 in Hartford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,477/mo | $1,496/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,940 | $57,370 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA and Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT MSA. Metro areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT and Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hartford | Norwich |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.2 | 93.7 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 144.9 | 148.6 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 102.7 | 100.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hartford, CT → Norwich, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
76 Strong offer
Norwich, CT → Hartford, CT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Hartford, CT to Norwich, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hartford, CT | Norwich, CT | Real change, Hartford → Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $69,642 | +2.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $84,260 | +2.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $100,992 | +2.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $120,094 | +2.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $141,915 | +2.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hartford, CT | Norwich, CT | Norwich pay in Hartford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,800 | $83,840 | $85,761 (+7.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,520 | $123,780 | $126,616 (−4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,940 | $82,530 | $84,421 (−12.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,470 | $101,330 | $103,651 (+2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.