Town · Connecticut
Colchester, Connecticut
Colchester, town, in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. Colchester had 15,825 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 15,555 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,648 (±29). GEOID 0918015910.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
15,825
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,555 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,648 ±29
Median household income
$122,390
±$14,194 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$366,800
±$16,403 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,474
±$153 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Colchester and what county is it in?
Colchester is a town in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 48.9 square miles of land, 318 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Colchester: Colchester (CDP, 4,700 in 2020).
Colchester is in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Colchester, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 15,825 people lived in Colchester on July 1, 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 15,555 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,648 (±29).
| Measure | Colchester | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,648±29 | 279,971 | – |
| Households | 6,388±306 | 115,768 | – |
| Average household size | 2.42±0.12 | 2.32 | – |
| Housing units | 6,710±342 | 126,425 | – |
Colchester's population since 2000
From 14,551 in 2000 to 15,825 in 2025: up 8.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Colchester as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Colchester?
The median resident of Colchester is 43.5 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 20.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.4%. 6.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Colchester | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5±3.8 | 41.1 | – |
| Under 18 years | 20.7%±2.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.3%±2.6 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 51.6%±2.0 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.4%±1.9 pts | 15.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.8%±2.9 pts | 70.6% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.7%±1.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7%±1.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.2%±2.0 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.5%±2.2 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8%±1.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 13.8%±2.5 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.2%±1.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.0%±1.2 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.7%±4.5 pts | 35.8% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 24.8%±4.4 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.1%±5.8 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5%±0.9 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Colchester earn?
Half of Colchester's 6,388 households earn less than $122,390 a year (±$14,194), against $86,586 in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. 3.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Colchester | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $122,390±$14,194 | $86,586 | – |
| Mean household income | $145,523±$11,349 | $111,769 | – |
| Per capita income | $60,108±$4,389 | $47,133 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 3.9%±1.3 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.3%±1.3 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.3%±2.6 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.7%±2.3 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.3%±2.5 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Colchester?
Owners occupy 76.5% of Colchester's occupied homes and renters 23.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $366,800 by its owner (±$16,403). The median renter pays $1,474 a month including utilities, and 38.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Colchester | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $366,800±$16,403 | $323,400 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,474±$153 | $1,365 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.5%±12.7 pts | 40.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,392±$132 | $2,140 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.5%±4.1 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.5%±4.1 pts | 34.9% | – |
| Housing units | 6,710±342 | 126,425 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.7%±5.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.6%±4.0 pts | 61.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.5%±1.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.8%±2.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.1%±2.9 pts | 23.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.5%±2.7 pts | 7.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Colchester building?
Builders took permits for 42 new housing units in Colchester in 2025 (9 in single-family houses), 2.7 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Colchester work and get to work?
71.7% of Colchester's workers drive alone and 18.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.7%.
| Measure | Colchester | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.2%±3.6 pts | 64.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.7%±1.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.7%±4.1 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.3%±3.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±1.1 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.4%±3.8 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.3 min±1.5 | 23.9 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Colchester?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Colchester (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $100,885 (Tract 7141.01) to $144,583 (Tract 7141.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7141.03Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 6,535 | $144,583 |
| Tract 7141.04Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 5,187 | $127,375 |
| Tract 7141.01Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 3,926 | $100,885 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Colchester) · Census block assignment files
How does Colchester compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Colchester is the 788th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 50th-most populous of 142 in Connecticut.
Colchester ranks 110th of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 50th | 142 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 108th | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 236th | 303 |
| Median household income | 110th | 294 |
| Per capita income | 128th | 303 |
| Median home value | 159th | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 129th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 165th | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 127th | 297 |
| Median age | 181st | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 174th | 300 |
| Work from home | 120th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 91st | 302 |
Colchester's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Colchester with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Colchester?
10 of the 57 figures for Colchester on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Colchester are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.