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Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut Demographics 2026

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has a population of 175,822, the 7th most populous county in Connecticut. The median household income is $104,428 and the median home value is $379,700. The poverty rate is 6.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region Quick Facts

Population 175,822
Median Household Income $104,428
Median Home Value $379,700
Poverty Rate 6.8%
Unemployment Rate 3.8%
Median Age 45.9 years
Homeownership Rate 75.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 46.0%
High School Graduation 95.5%
Cities/Places 0
Population 175,822 7th of 9
Median Income $104,428 9% higher than state
Poverty Rate 6.8%
Unemployment 3.8%

How Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population174,983175,822+0.5%
Median household income$101,117$104,428+3.3%
Median home value$359,000$379,700+5.8%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.0%
$25K-$50K 11.5%
$50K-$100K 26.4%
$100K+ 52.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.5%
$10K-$15K
2.0%
$15K-$20K
2.1%
$20K-$25K
2.4%
$25K-$30K
2.5%
$30K-$35K
2.7%
$35K-$40K
1.9%
$40K-$45K
1.8%
$45K-$50K
2.6%
$50K-$60K
5.3%
$60K-$75K
9.1%
$75K-$100K
12.0%
$100K-$125K
10.9%
$125K-$150K
8.3%
$150K-$200K
13.4%
$200K+
19.6%

Employment

3.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.6%|National: 5.2%
65.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.8%
Renter 24.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,454/mo 16.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

36out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 57 | National average: 61

Education

Population Overview

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is located in Connecticut with a total population of 175,822. It is the 7th most populous county out of 9 in Connecticut.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is 45.9 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 41.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is $104,428. This is 9% higher than the state median of $95,781. It is also 29% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.8%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 5.6%. The median home value is $379,700. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $366,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.8%. The Black or African American population (4.4%) is well below the state average of 9.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.8%) is well below the state average of 18.3%.

Education

46.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% higher than the state rate of 42.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.5%. Notably, 20.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Connecticut and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut?

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region has a population of 175,822, making it the 7th most populous county in Connecticut.

What is the median income in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?

The median household income in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is $104,428 with a poverty rate of 6.8%.

How many cities are in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut?

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region contains 0 Census-designated places.