County · Connecticut
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region had 177,311 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.8% since 2020, in line with Connecticut (+2.2%). It holds 31 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 13 census-designated) and 45 census tracts. GEOID 09130.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is one of the 2 counties of the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
177,311
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 174,225 · ACS 2020-2024: 175,822
Median household income
$104,428
±$2,975 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$379,700
±$6,838 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,454
±$44 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
How many people live in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 174,225 residents in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The Census Bureau estimates 177,311 for July 1, 2025, up 1.8% since 2020, in line with Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 175,822 over 424 square miles of land.
| Measure | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 175,822 | 3,624,508 | – |
| Households | 74,068±693 | 1,434,007 | – |
| Average household size | 2.28±0.02 | 2.46 | – |
| Housing units | 82,963±174 | 1,541,822 | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region holds 31 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 13 census-designated places. The largest is Middletown with 48,439 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Middletown | 47,717 | $79,438 |
|---|---|---|
| Cromwell | 14,225 | $110,596 |
| Clinton | 13,185 | $124,824 |
| East Hampton | 12,717 | $124,577 |
| Old Saybrook | 10,481 | $114,333 |
| Portland | 9,384 | $118,929 |
| East Haddam | 8,875 | $107,861 |
| Haddam | 8,452 | $114,426 |
| Old Lyme | 7,628 | $131,899 |
| Durham | 7,152 | $158,857 |
| Westbrook | 6,769 | $91,202 |
| Essex | 6,733 | $104,395 |
| Killingworth | 6,174 | $140,655 |
| Portland CDP | 5,813 | $89,401 |
| Lake Pocotopaug | 4,901 | $118,150 |
| Deep River | 4,415 | $90,253 |
| Middlefield | 4,217 | $99,837 |
| Durham CDP | 3,771 | $152,396 |
| Chester | 3,749 | $109,191 |
| Clinton CDP | 3,441 | $102,750 |
| East Hampton CDP | 2,960 | $123,929 |
| Deep River Center | 2,765 | $71,447 |
| Essex Village | 2,583 | $102,885 |
| Lyme | 2,352 | $135,000 |
| Old Saybrook Center | 2,278 | $93,875 |
| Westbrook Center | 2,220 | $74,618 |
| Higganum | 2,089 | $127,759 |
| Moodus | 1,982 | $103,457 |
| Chester Center | 1,720 | $89,375 |
| Saybrook ManorGEOID 0967050 | 1,172 | $119,670 |
| FenwickGEOID 0927810 | 53 | $171,042 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
The median resident of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is 45.9 years old; 16.7% are under 18 and 22.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.8%. 8.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9±0.2 | 41.1 | – |
| Under 18 years | 16.7% | 20.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.2%±0.1 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.8% | 18.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.2%±0.4 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.4%±0.4 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.4%±0.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6%±0.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.2%±0.6 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.7%±0.7 pts | 23.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| With a disability | 11.7%±0.6 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.3%±0.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.5%±0.5 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 46.0%±1.1 pts | 42.5% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.7%±0.9 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4%±0.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
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 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region earn?
Half of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region's 74,068 households earn less than $104,428 a year (±$2,975), against $95,781 in Connecticut. 6.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $104,428±$2,975 | $95,781 | – |
| Mean household income | $138,522±$4,355 | $138,744 | – |
| Per capita income | $59,075±$1,629 | $55,915 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 6.8%±0.6 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.6%±1.5 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.8%±0.8 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.5%±0.9 pts | 92.2% | – |
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 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Owners occupy 75.8% of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region's occupied homes and renters 24.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $379,700 by its owner (±$6,838). The median renter pays $1,454 a month including utilities, and 40.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $379,700±$6,838 | $366,900 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,454±$44 | $1,488 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.7%±3.3 pts | 43.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,411±$43 | $2,429 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.8%±1.2 pts | 66.5% | – |
| Housing units | 82,963±174 | 1,541,822 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7%±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6%±1.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.4%±1.1 pts | 58.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 19.2%±1.1 pts | 20.2% | – |
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 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region building?
Builders took permits for 358 new housing units across Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region in 2025 (177 single-family), 2.0 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region get to work?
71.6% of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region's workers drive alone and 16.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.
| Measure | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.0%±0.7 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8%±0.5 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6%±1.4 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.5%±0.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1%±0.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Walked | 2.3%±0.3 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.8%±1.1 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.0 min±0.6 | 26.5 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 are Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region's census tracts?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is divided into 45 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $40,598 (Tract 5416) to $161,042 (Tract 5414.01).
All 45 census tracts of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, with their figures
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region compare with Connecticut's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 7th of 9 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 6th of 9 |
| Residents per square mile | 7th of 9 |
| Median household income | 2nd of 9 |
| Median home value | 3rd of 9 |
| Median gross rent | 4th of 9 |
| Poverty rate | 9th of 9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2nd of 9 |
| Median age | 2nd of 9 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region 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.