1st Advantage MortgageIn Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut, the typical household earns $89,667 a year and the typical rent is $1,546. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Connecticut before sharing details.
On this page
- Greater Bridgeport Planning Region at a glance
- What Greater Bridgeport Planning Region households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
- Renting and owning in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
- The communities that make up Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Greater Bridgeport Planning Region households compared
- What the numbers mean for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region borrowers
- A Greater Bridgeport Planning Region household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region residents
- Checklist for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region applicants
- More guides for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
- Frequently asked questions
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region at a glance
With an estimated 329,259 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Greater Bridgeport Planning Region ranks 5th of 9 in Connecticut for population. Land area is 140 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2,349 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metropolitan area. Of the 25 Census places inside Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Bridgeport leads by population with about 149,153; 9 of the 25 are incorporated.
What Greater Bridgeport Planning Region households earn
At $89,667, the typical Greater Bridgeport Planning Region household income is 37% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 6th among Connecticut's 9 county-level areas.
| Household income | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | vs Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.7% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.5% | -0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.1% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.7% | +1.5 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 46% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.4% of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region residents in poverty, against 10.0% across Connecticut. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.520 here. For a borrower in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
The biggest employer of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). The survey's unemployment rate for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region averages 7.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.6%). Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 11.2% of the total (8.8% statewide).
| Top industries | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region share | +/- vs Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | -2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Renters in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region pay a median of $1,546 a month, 4% above the Connecticut figure of $1,488. By the Census definition, 59% of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $428,800, about 4.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 65%. Median construction year: 1959.
| Housing | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | Connecticut statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,546/mo | $1,488/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $428,800 | $366,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 7% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The communities that make up Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 25 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region residents live in one of the 25. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $58,685 in Bridgeport to $250,001 in Botsford. Rent is cheapest in Monroe ($994) and steepest in Southport ($3,333). None of the 25 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | city | 149,153 | $58,685 | $1,450 | 1 mi |
| Fairfield | town | 63,416 | $172,432 | $2,185 | 3 mi |
| Stratford | town | 52,790 | $95,815 | $1,706 | 4 mi |
| Milford | city | 51,023 | $111,201 | $1,882 | 8 mi |
| Shelton | city | 41,889 | $108,185 | $1,741 | 9 mi |
| Trumbull | town | 37,281 | $163,073 | $2,266 | 6 mi |
| Monroe | town | 18,949 | $157,250 | $994 | 11 mi |
| Trumbull Center | CDP | 10,264 | $123,708 | $2,307 | 4 mi |
| Long Hill | CDP | 8,681 | $178,456 | $1,952 | 6 mi |
| Easton | town | 7,670 | $222,604 | $3,205 | 7 mi |
| Daniels Farm | CDP | 5,976 | $189,091 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Oronoque | CDP | 4,116 | $72,417 | $2,278 | 7 mi |
| East Village | CDP | 3,998 | $177,159 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Stepney | CDP | 3,979 | $153,966 | $2,750 | 10 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Western Connecticut Planning Region is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Putnam County, is 32 miles off. Income ranges from $86,191 in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region to $130,686 in Suffolk County; 4 of these neighbors top Greater Bridgeport Planning Region's median. Some neighbors are in New York. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Greater Bridgeport Planning Region resident follows Connecticut rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | - | $89,667 | $1,546/mo | 65% |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 14 mi | $128,188 | $2,110/mo | 66% |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 21 mi | $88,197 | $1,525/mo | 61% |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT | 24 mi | $86,191 | $1,330/mo | 69% |
| Westchester County, NY | 28 mi | $118,976 | $1,951/mo | 62% |
| Suffolk County, NY | 32 mi | $130,686 | $2,255/mo | 82% |
| Putnam County, NY | 32 mi | $126,257 | $1,775/mo | 84% |
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region households compared
42% of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.6%, against 5.4% for Connecticut.
| People and households | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | Connecticut | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 41.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.7% | 42.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 8.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 5.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.2% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 16.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.3% | 5.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 14.4% |
What the numbers mean for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region borrowers
Where the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 23% of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Higher earners. 46% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 59% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Greater Bridgeport Planning Region household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Greater Bridgeport Planning Region household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Greater Bridgeport Planning Region: $7,472
- Housing at the median rent of $1,546 uses 21%
- $1,069: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,817 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region's.
Who licenses lenders for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region residents
The Connecticut Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Connecticut license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Connecticut: Connecticut personal loans.
Checklist for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region applicants
Quick steps for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
For statewide rules and data, see the Connecticut guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Greater Bridgeport Planning Region a high-income county?
Its $89,667 median ranks 6th of 9 Connecticut counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Greater Bridgeport Planning Region rent compare with Connecticut?
$1,546 locally versus $1,488 for the state, 4% above.
Which towns does the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 25 Census places: Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Milford, Shelton.
Are Greater Bridgeport Planning Region applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Greater Bridgeport Planning Region office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Connecticut it is the Connecticut Department of Banking.