Connecticut households earn a median $95,781 a year and pay a median $1,488 in rent, according to the Census Bureau. Before borrowing, confirm the lender's state license, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and walk away from any upfront fee.
On this page
- Connecticut by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Connecticut borrowers
- Largest places in Connecticut
- More Connecticut cities and towns
- Counties with the most residents
- How Connecticut earns a living
- More context for Connecticut budgets
- Checking a lender in Connecticut
- Can Connecticut residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Connecticut
- Frequently asked questions
Connecticut by the numbers
The table compares Connecticut with the United States on sixteen measures that shape household budgets, and ranks it against the other states and the District of Columbia. All figures are American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five-year estimates.
| Measure | Connecticut | Nation | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $95,781 | $80,734 | 9th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 53% | 51% | 7th |
| Median home value | $366,900 | $332,700 | 19th |
| Homeownership rate | 66% | 65% | 35th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 30% | 28% | 11th |
| Home value to income ratio | 3.8x | 4.1x | 28th |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 15% | 17% | 18th |
| Working from home | 16% | 15% | 16th |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree | 42% | 36% | 7th |
| Age, median | 41.1 | 38.9 | 7th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.499 | 0.483 | 3rd |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 18% | 21% | 38th |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 48% | 41% | 9th |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 12.5% | 43rd |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 5.6% | 5.2% | 13th |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,488 | $1,413 | 17th |
What the numbers mean for Connecticut borrowers
A middle-of-the-road Connecticut household brings in $95,781 a year. That is 19% above the $80,734 national median and good for 9th place. Use it as a yardstick: if your income sits well below the median, keep the loan smaller and the term shorter.
The bottom and top of the Connecticut income ladder: 18% of households under $35,000, 48% at $100,000 or more. U.S. comparison: 21% and 41%. Households at the lower end often do better with a smaller loan, or with a hardship plan from the creditor they already owe.
Connecticut posts an ACS unemployment rate of 5.6% and a poverty rate of 10.0%, compared with 5.2% and 12.5% for the country. These are averages over five years, not this month's job market; a lender cares about your own work history.
Commutes shape budgets too: 15% of Connecticut workers travel 45 minutes or more each way (U.S.: 17%), and 16% work from home. Fuel, tires and insurance belong in the budget before you size any loan payment.
Largest places in Connecticut
These 12 places hold the biggest populations in Connecticut. Income, rent and home values come from the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
| City or town | County | Population | Household income (median) | Median rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | Fairfield County | 149,153 | $58,685 | $1,450 | $274,900 |
| Stamford | Fairfield County | 137,144 | $111,586 | $2,276 | $624,400 |
| New Haven | New Haven County | 134,349 | $56,851 | $1,488 | $287,100 |
| Hartford | Hartford County | 121,127 | $46,411 | $1,269 | $228,600 |
| Waterbury | New Haven County | 114,869 | $51,886 | $1,225 | $208,500 |
| Norwalk | Fairfield County | 92,187 | $107,616 | $2,073 | $558,000 |
| Danbury | Fairfield County | 87,263 | $83,393 | $1,846 | $411,200 |
| New Britain | Hartford County | 74,223 | $58,613 | $1,253 | $223,600 |
| West Hartford | Hartford County | 63,620 | $129,890 | $1,756 | $411,000 |
| Fairfield | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 63,416 | $172,432 | $2,185 | $780,500 |
| Bristol | Hartford County | 61,462 | $79,076 | $1,338 | $277,800 |
| Hamden | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 61,045 | $98,306 | $1,746 | $298,200 |
Westport ($250,001) and Hartford ($46,411) mark the high and low ends of median household income among Connecticut places with at least 20,000 residents. 88 places top 10,000 people; 17 top 50,000. Darien renters pay the most ($3,501 at the median) and Windham renters the least ($1,107).
More Connecticut cities and towns
Continuing down the population list from Meriden to Cheshire.
| Community | Population | Median household income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meriden | 60,545 | $71,253 | $1,294 |
| West Haven | 55,351 | $74,382 | $1,442 |
| Stratford | 52,790 | $95,815 | $1,706 |
| Milford | 51,023 | $111,201 | $1,882 |
| East Hartford | 50,918 | $70,778 | $1,225 |
| Middletown | 47,958 | $79,438 | $1,446 |
| Wallingford | 44,362 | $104,773 | $1,374 |
| Southington | 43,803 | $124,309 | $1,472 |
| Shelton | 41,889 | $108,185 | $1,741 |
| Enfield | 41,090 | $90,404 | $1,574 |
| Norwich | 39,973 | $65,024 | $1,253 |
| Trumbull | 37,281 | $163,073 | $2,266 |
| Manchester | 36,759 | $74,267 | $1,384 |
| Torrington | 35,547 | $70,856 | $1,169 |
| Glastonbury | 35,293 | $157,192 | $1,700 |
| Naugatuck | 31,800 | $96,324 | $1,369 |
| Newington | 30,896 | $102,884 | $1,524 |
| Vernon | 30,577 | $85,356 | $1,425 |
| Windsor | 29,468 | $104,725 | $1,681 |
| Cheshire | 29,040 | $146,528 | $1,398 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in West Haven (23%) and least in Cheshire (11%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 9 counties in Connecticut, these 9 have the most people.
| County | Residents | Median income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Planning Region | 977,290 | $93,394 | $1,411 | $323,700 |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region | 627,071 | $128,188 | $2,110 | $652,900 |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 570,598 | $88,197 | $1,525 | $353,100 |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 454,969 | $86,191 | $1,330 | $317,700 |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 329,259 | $89,667 | $1,546 | $428,800 |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 279,971 | $86,586 | $1,365 | $323,400 |
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 175,822 | $104,428 | $1,454 | $379,700 |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region | 113,216 | $93,551 | $1,193 | $335,600 |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 96,312 | $90,589 | $1,155 | $307,600 |
Median income by county stretches from $86,191 (Naugatuck Valley Planning Region) up to $128,188 (Western Connecticut Planning Region). That spread is a reminder to size a payment to your own budget, not to a state average.
How Connecticut earns a living
The table lists the four industries that employ the most Connecticut residents, as a share of employed people 16 and older, next to the national share.
| Industry | Share of Connecticut workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 27% | 24% | +3.3 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 12% | 13% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11% | 10% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10% | 11% | -0.4 pts |
Education, health care and social assistance is the sector with the biggest gap over the national mix, employing 27% of Connecticut workers (U.S.: 24%). If your income comes from self-employment or gig work, gather two years of tax returns and recent bank statements before you compare offers.
More context for Connecticut budgets
Housing for renters: median rent of $1,488 (17th of 51), with 53% of renting households putting 30 percent or more of income toward it. If rent already takes a third of your pay, a new payment needs a stress test: could you make it in a month with a surprise bill?
The median Connecticut resident is 41.1. Four-year degrees: 42% of adults. Income inequality (Gini): 0.499, 3rd of 51.
About 66% of Connecticut homes are owner-occupied (35th of 51; U.S. 65%), and the median home is valued at $366,900, or 3.8 times the median household income. 30% of mortgaged owners are housing-cost burdened, versus 28% nationally.
Checking a lender in Connecticut
A two-minute check protects you: look the lender up before you share a Social Security number. In Connecticut the banking agency named by CSBS is the Connecticut Department of Banking.
- Ask for the lender's license number and look it up on NMLS Consumer Access.
- Never pay a fee before the money arrives; the FTC calls that an advance-fee loan scam.
- If a lender stops answering, the CFPB complaint form usually gets a response within weeks.
Can Connecticut residents use the questionnaire?
Not every state has a lending partner yet. Choose Connecticut on the location step and the questionnaire will tell you right away whether matching is open; if it is not, you can leave an email for the waitlist.
Local guides in Connecticut
Open a local guide for a closer look at your own city (7 in Connecticut):
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check a lender's license in Connecticut?
The state banking agency listed for Connecticut by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the Connecticut Department of Banking. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
How much does a typical Connecticut household earn?
$95,781 a year in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, 9th among the 50 states and DC; the national median is $80,734.
How much do Connecticut renters pay?
The typical renter pays $1,488; the U.S. median is $1,413. In Connecticut, 53% of renting households spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
How common are long commutes in Connecticut?
15% of Connecticut workers travel 45 minutes or more to work, against 17% nationally (ACS 2020 to 2024). Long drives raise fuel and repair costs, so build them into any loan budget.