HomeConnecticutSouth Central Connecticut Planning Region
South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut: commercial real estate data.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut had an estimated 576,718 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 570,732, across 367 square miles. County output reached $50.13 bn in 2024, 13,779 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 615 7(a) approvals worth $238.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
How many people live in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024570,598
- Households230,673
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$88,197
- Median age40.2
- Median gross rent$1,525 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$353,100
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher42.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree20.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over399,673
- Population under 18111,623
- Share under 1819.6 percent
- Population 65 and over106,066
- Share 65 and over18.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64352,909
- Civilian labor force307,607
- Unemployment rate6.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.0 percent
- Rank by population among Connecticut planning regions3rd of 9
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included125th of 3,222
South Central Connecticut Planning Region is the 3rd largest of 9 Connecticut planning regions by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.6 percent against 18.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Is South Central Connecticut Planning Region's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024576,718
- Census 2020 base population570,732
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.05 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,799
- Births, 20245,641
- Deaths, 20245,375
- Natural change, 2024266
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,802
- Net international migration, 20245,328
- Total net migration, 20243,526
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,707
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1462nd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.05 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Where are people moving to South Central Connecticut Planning Region from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving13,546
- People arriving, from those returns20,711
- Tax returns filed by households leaving14,896
- Net household movement-1,350
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.09 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-152.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$80,547
- Average income of a leaving household$83,501
- Largest single originNaugatuck Valley Planning Region (1,662 households)
- Largest single destinationNaugatuck Valley Planning Region (1,799 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 1,662 | 2,594 | $103.5 m |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Regio | 1,432 | 2,297 | $97.8 m |
| Capitol Planning Region | 1,186 | 1,752 | $90.5 m |
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Pl | 794 | 1,193 | $57.1 m |
| Western Connecticut Planning Regi | 758 | 1,189 | $92.1 m |
| Bronx County | 385 | 760 | $22.0 m |
| New York County | 357 | 523 | $58.9 m |
| Kings County | 314 | 478 | $25.6 m |
Households arriving report $2,954 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, 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.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
What is the South Central Connecticut Planning Region economy?
- County GDP, 2024$50.13 bn
- County GDP, 2023$0
- Rank by GDP among the Connecticut areas BEA publishes3rd of 17
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes117th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$87,861
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Employment by industry in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Covered employment, annual average281,946
- Establishments reporting20,772
- Average annual pay$75,517
- Average weekly wage$1,452
- Health care and social assistance, employment54,695
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$67,514
- Educational services, employment29,670
- Educational services, average annual pay$106,632
- Retail trade, employment26,237
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,518
- Accommodation and food services, employment20,204
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$29,505
- Manufacturing, employment19,596
- Transportation and warehousing, employment17,985
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 54,695 | 3,630 | $67,514 |
| Educational services | 29,670 | 434 | $106,632 |
| Retail trade | 26,237 | 1,925 | $43,518 |
| Accommodation and food services | 20,204 | 1,585 | $29,505 |
| Manufacturing | 19,596 | 726 | $84,007 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17,985 | 360 | $51,057 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 16,381 | 1,294 | $66,929 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 12,937 | 2,901 | $133,851 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 54,695 jobs, 19.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
How many businesses are in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
- Establishments, all industries13,779
- Employment at those establishments263,675
- Annual payroll$17.15 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Building permits in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,014
- Declared construction value permitted$154.3 m
- Single family units authorized191
- Multifamily units authorized823
- Multifamily share of units81.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$152,213
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.4
Multifamily is 81.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
SBA loans in South Central Connecticut Planning Region (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded615
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$238.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$387,771
- Median 7(a) approval$130,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,071,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)5,215
- Jobs per approval8.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active62
- Distinct industries receiving approvals205
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms66
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter534
- Franchise loans38
- Franchise share of approvals6.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (37)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (111)
- 504 approvals recorded112
- 504 gross approval dollars$94.1 m
- Average 504 approval$840,321
- Median 504 approval$410,500
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval8.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.7
- Most active CDCCommunity Investment Corporation (81)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$332.6 m
The average approval of $387,771 sits well above the median of $130,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.7 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.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Do SBA loans in South Central Connecticut Planning Region get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded69
- Paid in full54
- Charged off15
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans21.7 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure450
- Status: Paid in full54
- Status: Charged off15
- Status: Cancelled39
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed57
Of the 69 loans that have reached a final outcome, 21.7 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.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
SBA lending by place in South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Borrower cities with recorded lending17
- New Haven, approvals110
- Milford, approvals80
- Hamden, approvals70
- Branford, approvals54
- Wallingford, approvals53
- Meriden, approvals51
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| New Haven | 110 | $34,678,500 |
| Milford | 80 | $27,586,200 |
| Hamden | 70 | $19,252,800 |
| Branford | 54 | $23,527,100 |
| Wallingford | 53 | $21,285,100 |
| Meriden | 51 | $25,918,700 |
| West Haven | 37 | $20,098,800 |
| North Haven | 32 | $11,661,400 |
| 9 other borrower cities | 128 | $54,470,600 |
New Haven accounts for 110 approvals against 80 in Milford. 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.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
How large is South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
- Land area367 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Connecticut planning regions8th of 9
- Width, east to west30.9 mi
- Height, north to south34 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land1,555
- Establishments per square mile37.54
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.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a South Central Connecticut 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024570,598
- Households230,673
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$88,197
- Median age40.2
Common questions
South Central Connecticut Planning Region questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut?
The Census Bureau estimates 576,718 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 570,598, in 230,673 households, ranking 3rd of 9 Connecticut counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is South Central Connecticut Planning Region's population growing?
The population has grown 1.05 percent since the 2020 census base of 570,732, to 576,718 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 5,641 births against 5,375 deaths, with net migration of 3,526. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
$88,197. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $353,100, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,525 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
13,779 establishments, employing 263,675 people with an annual payroll of $17.15 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 54,695 jobs, 19.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 281,946 jobs at an average annual pay of $75,517, or $1,452 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
615 7(a) approvals totaling $238.5 m since FY2020, across 62 lenders, with a median approval of $130,000, plus 112 504 approvals worth $94.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in South Central Connecticut Planning Region get paid back?
Of the 69 loans that have reached a final outcome, 54 were paid in full and 15 charged off, a charge-off rate of 21.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
1,014 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $154.3 m. Multifamily was 81.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Where do people moving to South Central Connecticut Planning Region come from?
The largest single origin is Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, with 1,662 households. Arriving households report an average income of $80,547 against $83,501 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for South Central Connecticut 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Cities and places in South Central Connecticut.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in South Central Connecticut Planning Region. All 14 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | city | 134,349 | 110 | Wholly in this county |
| Meriden | city | 60,545 | 51 | Wholly in this county |
| West Haven | city | 55,351 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Milford | place | 51,023 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| East Haven | CDP | 27,806 | 29 | Wholly in this county |
| North Haven | CDP | 24,336 | 32 | Wholly in this county |
| Wallingford Center | CDP | 18,208 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Orange | CDP | 14,315 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Branford Center | CDP | 6,305 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Northford | CDP | 6,186 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Quinnipiac University | CDP | 4,311 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Guilford Center | CDP | 2,263 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Madison Center | CDP | 1,981 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woodmont | borough | 1,661 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 328 of the county's 615 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, the largest being Milford (80), Hamden (70), Branford (54). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
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