NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

Metro Market Score 66.1 (Difficult), ranked #314 of 378 metros. 3,964 establishments, 52,879 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 66.1
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

💰High-Cost Market⚡Rising Wages

Wage costs in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford's retail trade sector are well above the metro average, with wage competitiveness at 88.1 and rising pressure at 72.5. New entrants should factor higher labor costs into their financial projections for this market.

Industry Concentration
6.1
LQ: 0.89
Rank #23 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
88.1
$43,152 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 6.6
Employment growth index
Rank #354 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
72.5
YoY wage change index

3,964 Retail Trade Firms in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford

3,964
Establishments
-4.7% YoY
52,879
Total Employment
-4.7% YoY
$43,152
Average Annual Wage
+2.1% YoY
0.89
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford vs Connecticut Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Connecticut overall. The state ranks #31/51 for entry risk.

Measure Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford CT Statewide
Overall Score 66.1 Difficult 44.7 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #314 of 378 metros #31 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford

Construction 52.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 56.6 Other Services 59.9 Accommodation and Food Services 60.4 Administrative and Support Services 63.0 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 64.8 Healthcare and Social Assistance 69.2 Information 69.6 Finance and Insurance 78.3

Retail Trade in Other Connecticut Metros

Norwich-New London-Willimantic 43.7 #76/378 Waterbury-Shelton 58.4 #235/378 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury 65.3 #310/378 New Haven 71.5 #346/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (93.4) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.