HomeConnecticutLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut: commercial real estate data.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has a population of 175,822 across 424 square miles, up 1.9 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $16.10 bn in 2024, 4,489 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 199 7(a) approvals worth $80.2 m.
121 sourced county values · tier FULL · 11 sections · underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
How many people live in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
- Population175,822
- Households74,068
- Average household size2.37
- Median household income$104,428
- Median age45.9
- Median gross rent$1,454 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$379,700
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher46.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree20.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over131,296
- Population under 1829,367
- Share under 1816.7 percent
- Population 65 and over39,070
- Share 65 and over22.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64107,385
- Civilian labor force97,736
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.7 percent
- Rank by population among Connecticut planning regions7th of 9
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents390th
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is the 7th largest of 9 Connecticut planning regions by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.2 percent against 16.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single storey product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Is Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region's population growing?
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.90 percent
- Census 2020 base population174,224
- Births, 20241,387
- Deaths, 20241,685
- Natural change, 2024-298
- Net domestic migration, 2024333
- Net international migration, 2024834
- Total net migration, 20241,167
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20243,613
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1196th
The county has grown 1.90 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration alone is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Where are people moving to Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,619
- People arriving, from those returns8,601
- Adjusted gross income arriving$538.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$95,877
- Largest single originLower Connecticut River Valley Pl Non-migrants (73,199 households)
- Largest single destination (73,199 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Pl Non-migrants | 73,199 | 137,091 | $8.77 bn |
| Capitol Planning Region | 1,496 | 2,228 | $140.5 m |
| Other flows - Different State | 1,227 | 1,941 | $113.1 m |
| South Central Connecticut Plannin | 1,140 | 1,777 | $105.9 m |
| Other flows - South | 509 | 800 | $47.5 m |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning | 429 | 667 | $35.7 m |
| Other flows - Northeast | 410 | 644 | $39.2 m |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 353 | 543 | $29.6 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Lower Connecticut River Valley Pl Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
What is the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region economy?
- County GDP, 2024$16.10 bn
- County GDP, 2023$0
- Rank by GDP among Connecticut planning regions7th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents313th
- GDP per resident$91,547
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Largest employers in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
- Covered employment, annual average73,682
- Establishments reporting6,800
- Average annual pay$70,364
- Average weekly wage$1,353
- Sector 62, employment12,621
- Sector 62, average annual pay$64,973
- Sector 31-33, employment9,380
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$98,237
- Sector 44-45, employment7,799
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$42,649
- Sector 72, employment6,460
- Sector 72, average annual pay$30,113
- Sector 23, employment4,188
- Sector 54, employment3,774
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 12,621 | 836 | $64,973 |
| Sector 31-33 | 9,380 | 262 | $98,237 |
| Sector 44-45 | 7,799 | 670 | $42,649 |
| Sector 72 | 6,460 | 506 | $30,113 |
| Sector 23 | 4,188 | 584 | $84,055 |
| Sector 54 | 3,774 | 924 | $117,431 |
| Sector 56 | 3,093 | 447 | $53,469 |
| Sector 48-49 | 2,571 | 106 | $39,560 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 12,621 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
How many businesses are in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
- Establishments, all industries4,489
- Employment at those establishments65,436
- Annual payroll$4.14 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Building permits in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024269
- Declared construction value permitted$78.8 m
- Single family units authorised174
- Multifamily units authorised95
- Multifamily share of units35.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$292,933
- Units authorised per 1,000 households3.6
Multifamily is 35.3 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is predominantly for sale product.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
SBA loans in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded199
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$80.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$403,051
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,200,000
- Largest single approval$3,997,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,061
- Jobs per approval10.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active34
- Distinct industries receiving approvals103
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms21
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter169
- Franchise loans18
- Franchise share of approvals9.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (18)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (32)
- 504 approvals recorded70
- 504 gross approval dollars$33.9 m
- Average 504 approval$484,686
- Median 504 approval$316,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval6.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.7
- Most active CDCCommunity Investment Corporation (49)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals74.0 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$114.1 m
The average approval of $403,051 sits well above the median of $150,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 10.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition. A further 1,590 Connecticut approvals are recorded against the state's former counties, which were replaced by planning regions in 2022. The two sets of boundaries do not nest, so those approvals cannot be assigned to a planning region and are excluded from every figure on this page.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Do SBA loans in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded17
- Paid in full16
- Charged off1
- Charge off rate on resolved loans5.9 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure149
- Status: Paid in full16
- Status: Cancelled13
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed20
- Status: Charged off1
Of the 17 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
SBA lending by place in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
- Places in the county with recorded lending26
- MIDDLETOWN, approvals58
- CROMWELL, approvals22
- OLD SAYBROOK, approvals21
- CLINTON, approvals12
- Portland, approvals12
- WESTBROOK, approvals10
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| MIDDLETOWN | 58 | $15,892,100 |
| CROMWELL | 22 | $14,498,900 |
| OLD SAYBROOK | 21 | $11,666,100 |
| CLINTON | 12 | $2,994,000 |
| Portland | 12 | $9,273,800 |
| WESTBROOK | 10 | $4,284,000 |
| Chester | 7 | $1,126,000 |
| KILLINGWORTH | 6 | $700,500 |
MIDDLETOWN accounts for 58 approvals against 22 in CROMWELL. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
How large is Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
- Land area424 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Connecticut planning regions6th of 9
- Width, east to west26.2 mi
- Height, north to south32.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land415
- Establishments per square mile10.59
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- No NFIP communities are listed for this county in the FEMA Community Status Book.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population175,822
- Households74,068
- Average household size2.37
- Median household income$104,428
- Median age45.9
Common questions
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut?
175,822, in 74,068 households, ranking 7th of 9 Connecticut counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region's population growing?
The population has grown 1.90 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 1,387 births against 1,685 deaths, with net migration of 1,167. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
$104,428. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $379,700, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,454 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
4,489 establishments, employing 65,436 people with an annual payroll of $4.14 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Average annual pay is $70,364, or $1,353 a week, across 73,682 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
199 7(a) approvals totalling $80.2 m since FY2020, across 34 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 70 504 approvals worth $33.9 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region get paid back?
Of the 17 loans that have reached a final outcome, 16 were paid in full and 1 charged off, a charge off rate of 5.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
269 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $78.8 m. Multifamily was 35.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Where do people moving to Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region come from?
The largest single origin is Lower Connecticut River Valley Pl Non-migrants, with 73,199 households. Arriving households report an average income of $95,877 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Cities and places in Lower Connecticut River Valley.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA approvals | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown | city | 47,958 | 69 | Wholly in this county |
| Portland | CDP | 5,944 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Pocotopaug | CDP | 4,875 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clinton | CDP | 3,465 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Durham | CDP | 3,347 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| East Hampton | CDP | 3,347 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Essex Village | CDP | 2,705 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Westbrook Center | CDP | 2,501 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Deep River Center | CDP | 2,407 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Moodus | CDP | 2,042 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Chester Center | CDP | 2,026 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Higganum | CDP | 1,742 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Old Saybrook Center | CDP | 1,659 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Saybrook Manor | CDP | 1,358 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fenwick | borough | 49 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |