1st Advantage MortgageAbout 66% of Western Connecticut Planning Region homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $128,188. 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
- A quick profile of Western Connecticut Planning Region
- Renting and owning in Western Connecticut Planning Region
- Income in Western Connecticut Planning Region compared with Connecticut
- The Western Connecticut Planning Region job picture
- Western Connecticut Planning Region towns compared
- Counties near Western Connecticut Planning Region
- A Western Connecticut Planning Region household budget, worked through
- Western Connecticut Planning Region residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Western Connecticut Planning Region borrowers
- Lender oversight for Western Connecticut Planning Region
- Four steps for Western Connecticut Planning Region borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Western Connecticut Planning Region
With an estimated 627,071 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Western Connecticut Planning Region ranks 2nd of 9 in Connecticut for population. Land area is 532 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,178 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 67 places in the county (10 incorporated, 57 census-designated); the largest is Stamford, with about 137,144 residents, or 22% of the county.
Renting and owning in Western Connecticut Planning Region
A typical Western Connecticut Planning Region rental runs $2,110 a month including utilities, which is 42% above Connecticut. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. Home values center on $652,900, or 5.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 66%. Median construction year: 1971.
| Housing | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,110/mo | $1,488/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $652,900 | $366,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 30% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Income in Western Connecticut Planning Region compared with Connecticut
At $128,188, the typical Western Connecticut Planning Region household income is 95% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 1st among Connecticut's 9 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Western Connecticut Planning Region | +/- vs Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.5% | -4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 26.3% | -7.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.8% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 32.4% | +13.3 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 60% clear $100,000. 7.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.545 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $128,188 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Western Connecticut Planning Region job picture
The biggest employer of Western Connecticut Planning Region residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (18%). Compared with Connecticut, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (18% against 12%). The survey's unemployment rate for Western Connecticut Planning Region averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.6%). 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 22% work from home. Only 6.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Difference from Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.6% | -5.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 17.6% | +5.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 12.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | -2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Western Connecticut Planning Region towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 67 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 90% of Western Connecticut Planning Region residents live in one of the 67. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Westport, $83,393 in Danbury. Rent is cheapest in Wilton Center ($1,362) and steepest in Darien ($3,501). No Western Connecticut Planning Region place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 67.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamford | city | 137,144 | $111,586 | $2,276 | 15 mi |
| Norwalk | city | 92,187 | $107,616 | $2,073 | 13 mi |
| Danbury | city | 87,263 | $83,393 | $1,846 | 8 mi |
| Westport | town | 27,528 | $250,001 | $2,509 | 12 mi |
| Darien | town | 21,936 | $250,001 | $3,501 | 16 mi |
| Wilton | town | 18,777 | $242,199 | $1,819 | 5 mi |
| Brookfield | town | 17,706 | $148,360 | $1,892 | 13 mi |
| Greenwich | CDP | 14,792 | $134,914 | $2,082 | 20 mi |
| New Fairfield | town | 13,584 | $137,647 | $1,896 | 14 mi |
| Bethel | CDP | 11,404 | $90,848 | $1,656 | 6 mi |
| Riverside | CDP | 8,954 | $250,001 | $3,501 | 19 mi |
| Redding | town | 8,780 | $186,060 | $2,101 | 3 mi |
| Cos Cob | CDP | 7,546 | $190,481 | $3,067 | 18 mi |
| Staples | CDP | 7,340 | $192,656 | $2,328 | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Western Connecticut Planning Region
Six nearby counties, 14 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $86,191 in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region to $126,257 in Putnam County; none of these neighbors top Western Connecticut Planning Region's median. Some neighbors are in New York. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Western Connecticut Planning Region resident follows Connecticut rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Connecticut Planning Region | - | $128,188 | $2,110/mo | 66% |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | 14 mi | $89,667 | $1,546/mo | 65% |
| Westchester County, NY | 18 mi | $118,976 | $1,951/mo | 62% |
| Putnam County, NY | 19 mi | $126,257 | $1,775/mo | 84% |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT | 25 mi | $86,191 | $1,330/mo | 69% |
| Rockland County, NY | 31 mi | $109,959 | $1,901/mo | 68% |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 32 mi | $88,197 | $1,525/mo | 61% |
A Western Connecticut Planning Region household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Western Connecticut Planning Region budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $10,682 a month: gross income for a household at the Western Connecticut Planning Region median
- Less median rent of $2,110, which is 20% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,736 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $2,110, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Western Connecticut Planning Region residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 56% of adults over 25. 7.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 41.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 55.5% | 42.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 8.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 5.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.5% | 16.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Western Connecticut Planning Region workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 15.8% |
What the numbers mean for Western Connecticut Planning Region borrowers
What the Western Connecticut Planning Region figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 24% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Western Connecticut Planning Region budgets.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 60% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Lender oversight for Western Connecticut Planning Region
Western Connecticut Planning Region borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Connecticut Department of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Connecticut guide.
Four steps for Western Connecticut Planning Region borrowers
Steps that save money for Western Connecticut Planning Region residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Connecticut guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Western Connecticut Planning Region a high-income county?
Its $128,188 median ranks 1st of 9 Connecticut counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Western Connecticut Planning Region rent compare with Connecticut?
$2,110 locally versus $1,488 for the state, 42% above.
Does this page cover Stamford?
Yes, along with the other 66 Census places in Western Connecticut Planning Region, such as Norwalk, Danbury, Westport.
Can Western Connecticut Planning Region residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Connecticut county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Western Connecticut Planning Region residents?
The Connecticut Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Connecticut; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.