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Hartford: Demographics & People

About 15,821 people live in Hartford, in 6,668 households. Population grew 0.4% from 15,761 (2022) to 15,821 (2024). Median age 39.1 years. (4.7y younger than Washington County; 0.8y older than Wisconsin). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 88% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.13). 60% of households are family-led. County is losing 404 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 20% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 0.4% from 15,761 (2022) to 15,821 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~15,881 (extrapolated at 0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 15,961.

Census data vintage2024
Population89,396 people
Annual growth rate · Population change0.4%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)15,761
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)15,821
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorystable
Population15,821 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785)
Population Estimate15,961

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 39.1y is 0.2 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age39.1 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y)
Age Summary · Children Pct22.5%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Age Summary · Total Pop15,821
Age Summary · Under 183,560
Age Summary · 18 To 343,527.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 646,062.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus2,672
Population under 183,560
Median age39.1 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 15,821 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.13 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.

White residents14,498
Black residents79
Asian residents139
Hispanic or Latino residents873
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)13.2%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelrelatively homogeneous
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share93.0%
Asian population1.1% (vs Wisconsin 3.1%)
Black population0.9% (vs Wisconsin 2.7%)
Hispanic or Latino population6.1% (vs Wisconsin 6.6%)
White (non-Hispanic) population87.6% (vs Wisconsin 81.6%)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Polish
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
American
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.6% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state12,304
Residents born in another state3,083
Share born in this state77.8%
Share born in another state22.2%
Native-born U.S. citizens19.5%
Foreign-born residents0.6%
Naturalized citizens2.1%
Total foreign-born residents363
From Europe136
From Asia27
From Africa64

Households & Family Composition

6,668 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 3,837 families, 38% are married couples with children.

Children under 183,721
Total families3,837
Married couples with children1,477
Single-parent households74
Average household size2.38
Women who gave birth (past year)11.5%
Grandparents living with grandchildren51
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren17
Family households3,993 households (vs Wisconsin 7,092)
Households that are families59.9% (vs Wisconsin 57.2%)
Total households6,668 households (vs Wisconsin 10,843)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 9.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 404 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)9.2%
Migration · People moving in (annual)82,411
Migration · People moving out (annual)82,815
Migration · Net migration (in − out)-404
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability710
Disability rate4.6%

Group Quarters

Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 74 residents live in group quarters (0.5% of population).

Living in group quarters74

Other

Congressional District · District5
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips55027
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips55
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips027
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyDodge
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate8.6%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci7.00
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci10.30
Cdc Mortality · Fips55027
Cdc Mortality · CountyDodge County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralMicropolitan
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20233,314
Cdc Vaccination · Fips55027
Cdc Vaccination · CountyDodge County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct57.9%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct54.1%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct60.3%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 201987,839
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusNon-metro
Family Score · Score5.90
Family Score · Schools6
Family Score · Childcare Centers3
Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs2
Family Score · Children Pct22.5%
Family Score · Ratinggood
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 15,821, stable, family-oriented, upper-middle, mixed
Town Summary · Population15,821 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785)
Town Summary · CountyDodge County

Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade