South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut Demographics 2026

Population Overview

South Central Connecticut Planning Region is located in Connecticut with a total population of 570,598. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 9 in Connecticut.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Central Connecticut Planning Region is 40.2 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 41.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Central Connecticut Planning Region is $88,197. This is 8% lower than the state median of $95,781. It is also 9% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.4%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 8% higher than the state rate of 5.6%. The median home value is $353,100. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $366,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 60.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Central Connecticut Planning Region is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.6%.

Education

42.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 1% lower 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 92.1%. Notably, 20.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for South Central Connecticut 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.