i wouldn’t move downtown, i’d move to the west end. i lived in the west end for years and loved it, and elizabeth park is right there, along with a ton of living options.

Fuck that. You leave, you don't get to still try to milk it.

Thank you, that's good to know!

Thank you! This is very helpful :)

I'm partial to the area around Highland Park Elementary/Highland Park Market/Case Mountain. Wonderful neighborhoods. Sidewalks or slow streets, nice people. Close to the highway and downtown, which has several nice restaurants, bars, and an amazing Cafe (Silk City). Part of it is on the race route (Thanksgiving Day race, like 10,000 people run).

West Hartford, off I84, exit 41 is also a nice area. Close to highway, schools, and only a mile from the square (so walkable if you drink too much).

Thank you! What I've been hearing is that no place in CT is super walkable, but downtown Hartford seems like it's on the more walkable end of the spectrum ... :)

Thank you! That's very helpful. :)

Hartford is as safe as any other urban hub. Just use common sense and you’ll be fine. It’s true it’s not super walkable, but there’s plenty of stuff to do.

Just to be clear it’s all “Paid Parking”

Little to no free parking in downtown Hartford, only Saturday and Sunday the street parking is free

Yeah, I've done that, no issues. Though technically parks close at dusk and in the winter it'd be dark by then. I think most of my after-dark walks have been more in the city itself or over to the riverfront. (Though that might also technically be closed at dusk..?)

I feel pretty comfortable with the standard "be aware of my surroundings" that I employ by default outside after dark, and haven't really felt the need to have anything more stringent like I might in bigger or more known-dangerous places.

Thank you for the tips!

Thanks! That's around when I like to go out so that's good to hear :)

Like 6PM-ish

I lived in Hartford for about 15 years before moving to Massachusetts. It has crime just like all cities. I walked around but I was armed. Downtown during the day is normally good though there has been some increase in crime downtown according to a small business owner I know downtown. Just be aware of your surroundings and you should be good. Living there I saw alot of crime , drugs , homeless but I wasn’t in the greatest part of Hartford. Trouble is definitely there just don’t go looking for it. I worked and lived in the city , and saw a lot. Not trying to scare you. Stay safe. Good luck. I feel bad for the homeless but drugs are usually a factor and mental illness. I always gave them a bottle of water.

Thank you! This is great to know. What times do you like to go running at night?

I moved here just a few months ago from a NYC suburb, so I’m a recent transplant to Hartford. I’m in the Charter Oak Ave neighborhood and I walk/run a lot - these were my concerns before moving here and I’ve found downtown Hartford to be very safe / walkable. Riverside Park and Bushnell are great spots and trails that extend from them are nice, too.

Moving in winter, I found myself running after work downtown at night often - I even would cut thru Bushnell Park at night and never had an issue. (Be aware of your surroundings, of course!). There’s a lot of events happening in Hartford and I’m excited for the warmer weather and events coming up that I’ve stumbled upon.

If you get tired of Hartford on a weekend, there’s no shortage of nearby towns that also have a lot to offer. (Rt. 84 / 91 can get trafficky, but it’s never worse than any other city I’ve lived in).

Hartford has excelled a lot of my expectations so far. It’s far from perfect, but I’ve come to be very happy with my decision to relocate here, and I feel like I’ve just begun to scratch the surface!

Hey, Try 99 Pratt St Apartment. They are really flexible.

Is it possible you mean 211? That's what I've always used as a hotline/help line. I believe 411 is simply a phone lookup service.

Thank you!

How would you feel about walking in the parks around 6-7 pm? Good walking time? :)

I'm female and my boyfriend lives in downtown Hartford. We go for walks in Bushnell Park and at the riverfront (which is super pretty) all the time, including early evening, and I've gone by myself plenty of times. It's never felt unsafe.

There's also stuff to do if you look for it - last summer they had free outdoor concerts, his building did a wine tasting on the rooftop deck, there are theaters and restaurants, sometimes cool shows or events come to the XL Center or the Convention Center, we walk to Yard Goats games. I'm sure there are things like book clubs, but I've never personally looked into it.

That said, Hartford DOES feel relatively empty to me on weekends. Some people really like that; like they have the city more to themselves. It's true that some things close early or aren't open, but it's certainly not everything.

In general, I think Hartford gets a worse rep than it deserves. It's not my favorite city ever, but as far as being able to walk to good restaurants or occasional shows or whatever and having parks and water, it works.

Second all of this!!

Thank you!

Drive around Elizabeth park. Lots of beautiful old homes. Plus apartments nearby there though, they might be technically in West Hartford.

Thanks! Lots of people recommending West End :)

That's good to know, thank you!