1st Advantage MortgageIn South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, the typical household earns $88,197 a year and the typical rent is $1,525. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Connecticut license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Housing costs in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Income in South Central Connecticut Planning Region compared with Connecticut
- Employment and commuting in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- The communities that make up South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- The counties around South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- A South Central Connecticut Planning Region household budget, worked through
- People and households in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Borrowing situations common in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Lender oversight for South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Steps before you apply in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
South Central Connecticut Planning Region is home to about 570,598 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 3rd most populous of 9 county-level areas in Connecticut. Land area is 367 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,554 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the New Haven, CT metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 19 places in the county (10 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is New Haven, with about 134,349 residents, or 24% of the county.
Housing costs in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,525 in South Central Connecticut Planning Region versus $1,488 statewide. 54% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $353,100, a typical South Central Connecticut Planning Region house costs 4.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 61% of homes. Median construction year: 1964.
| Cost | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,525/mo | $1,488/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $353,100 | $366,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% | 0.7% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Income in South Central Connecticut Planning Region compared with Connecticut
At $88,197, the typical South Central Connecticut Planning Region household income is 34% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 7th among Connecticut's 9 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Gap to Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.7% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.7% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.2% | -2.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 45% of South Central Connecticut Planning Region households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.4% of South Central Connecticut Planning Region residents in poverty, against 10.0% across Connecticut. A household earning below the $88,197 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Education and health care employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 11%. Compared with Connecticut, the county leans toward education and health care (33% against 27%). The survey's unemployment rate for South Central Connecticut Planning Region averages 6.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 11.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Difference from Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.4% | +6.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.9% | -2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up South Central Connecticut Planning Region
The table lists the 14 largest of 19 Census places in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, by population. Together all 19 hold about 496,623 people, so roughly 13% of residents live outside any named place. Woodbridge has the highest median household income on the list ($188,750) and New Haven the lowest ($56,851), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,336 in Wallingford Center to $2,172 in Orange. Live in one of these South Central Connecticut Planning Region communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | city | 134,349 | $56,851 | $1,488 | 5 mi |
| Hamden | town | 61,045 | $98,306 | $1,746 | 9 mi |
| West Haven | city | 55,351 | $74,382 | $1,442 | 7 mi |
| Wallingford | town | 44,362 | $104,773 | $1,374 | 12 mi |
| Branford | town | 28,217 | $105,225 | $1,565 | 3 mi |
| East Haven | CDP | 27,806 | $94,628 | $1,528 | 1 mi |
| North Haven | CDP | 24,336 | $132,689 | $1,720 | 6 mi |
| Guilford | town | 22,108 | $137,816 | $1,717 | 8 mi |
| Wallingford Center | CDP | 18,208 | $89,959 | $1,336 | 11 mi |
| Madison | town | 17,616 | $167,442 | $2,025 | 12 mi |
| Orange | CDP | 14,315 | $142,325 | $2,172 | 10 mi |
| North Branford | town | 13,503 | $108,032 | $1,613 | 6 mi |
| Woodbridge | town | 9,073 | $188,750 | $1,808 | 10 mi |
| Branford Center | CDP | 6,305 | $74,150 | $1,459 | 1 mi |
The counties around South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 39 miles). Suffolk County leads the group on income ($130,686), Naugatuck Valley Planning Region trails ($86,191), and South Central Connecticut Planning Region out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in New York. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a South Central Connecticut Planning Region resident follows Connecticut rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region | - | $88,197 | $1,525/mo | 61% |
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT | 20 mi | $104,428 | $1,454/mo | 76% |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT | 20 mi | $86,191 | $1,330/mo | 69% |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | 21 mi | $89,667 | $1,546/mo | 65% |
| Suffolk County, NY | 25 mi | $130,686 | $2,255/mo | 82% |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 32 mi | $128,188 | $2,110/mo | 66% |
| Capitol Planning Region, CT | 39 mi | $93,394 | $1,411/mo | 66% |
A South Central Connecticut Planning Region household budget, worked through
South Central Connecticut Planning Region at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, South Central Connecticut Planning Region: $7,350
- Less median rent of $1,525, which is 21% of it
- $1,415: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of South Central Connecticut Planning Region's.
People and households in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Degree holders: 42% of adults over 25. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 41.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 42.0% | 42.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 8.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 5.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.4% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 16.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 5.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | South Central Connecticut Planning Region workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Borrowing situations common in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for South Central Connecticut Planning Region borrowers.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 45% of South Central Connecticut Planning Region households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 54% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Lender oversight for South Central Connecticut Planning Region
No county office licenses personal lenders. For South Central Connecticut Planning Region, check the Connecticut Department of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Connecticut: Connecticut personal loans.
Steps before you apply in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Quick steps for South Central Connecticut Planning Region:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one South Central Connecticut Planning Region-area credit union.
- Verify the Connecticut license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Connecticut guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in South Central Connecticut Planning Region earn?
The median is $88,197; 45% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,525 a month; 54% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small South Central Connecticut Planning Region town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, Wallingford, Branford and 14 more.
Does living in South Central Connecticut Planning Region change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a South Central Connecticut Planning Region resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Start with the Connecticut Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.