Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Hartford?

Hartford has lower average private school tuition at $28,000/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $4,000/year less, or $52,000 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Hartford over Cambridge?

Average tuition in Hartford is $4,000/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $52,000 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $15,800/year in Hartford.

How do Cambridge and Hartford private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Cambridge averages $32,000/year ($19,650 above average). Hartford averages $28,000/year ($15,650 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Hartford

Hartford averages $4,000/year less for private school (14% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $52,000 per child.

Bottom Line

Hartford is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $28,000/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $15,800/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Hartford

$28,000

avg tuition/year

$15,650 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Hartford	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$28,000/yr	+$4,000
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$15,800/yr	+$1,500
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$44,500/yr	+$20,500
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$22,800/yr	+$4,400
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$28,000/yr	+$4,000
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$35,000/yr	+$3,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Hartford

$364,000

Choosing Hartford saves $52,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $104,000.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Hartford

Kingswood Oxford School

Independent · 6–12 · $44,800-$47,200/yr

Loomis Chaffee School

Independent (Day) · 9–12 · $48,200/yr

Watkinson School

Independent · 6–12 · $36,800/yr

Northwest Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Hartford breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Connecticut private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.