County · Connecticut
South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. South Central Connecticut Planning Region had 578,741 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Connecticut (+2.2%). It holds 23 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs, 9 towns and townships and 9 census-designated) and 136 census tracts. GEOID 09170.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region is the county of the New Haven, CT metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
578,741
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 570,487 · ACS 2020-2024: 570,598
Median household income
$88,197
±$1,692 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$353,100
±$3,843 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,525
±$24 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
How many people live in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 570,487 residents in South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The Census Bureau estimates 578,741 for July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 570,598 over 367 square miles of land.
| Measure | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 570,598 | 3,624,508 | – |
| Households | 230,673±1,113 | 1,434,007 | – |
| Average household size | 2.38±0.01 | 2.46 | – |
| Housing units | 248,267±187 | 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
South Central Connecticut Planning Region holds 23 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 9 census-designated places. The largest is New Haven with 138,774 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| New Haven | 134,023 | $56,851 |
|---|---|---|
| Hamden | 61,169 | $98,306 |
| Meriden | 60,850 | $71,253 |
| West Haven | 55,584 | $74,382 |
| Milford | 52,044 | $110,669 |
| Milford city | 50,558 | $111,201 |
| Wallingford | 44,396 | $104,773 |
| Branford | 28,273 | $105,225 |
| East Haven | 27,923 | $94,628 |
| North Haven | 24,253 | $132,689 |
| Guilford | 22,073 | $137,816 |
| Wallingford Center | 18,278 | $89,959 |
| Madison | 17,691 | $167,442 |
| Orange | 14,280 | $142,325 |
| North Branford | 13,544 | $108,032 |
| Woodbridge | 9,087 | $188,750 |
| Northford | 6,082 | $105,174 |
| Branford Center | 6,026 | $74,150 |
| Bethany | 5,297 | $166,236 |
| Quinnipiac UniversityGEOID 0963313 | 3,639 | not published |
| Guilford Center | 2,586 | $82,273 |
| Madison Center | 2,250 | $178,194 |
| Woodmont | 1,486 | $91,250 |
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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
The median resident of South Central Connecticut Planning Region is 40.2 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 18.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 19.5%. 13.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2±0.3 | 41.1 | – |
| Under 18 years | 19.6%±0.1 pts | 20.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.6%±0.1 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 19.5% | 18.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 58.5%±0.2 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.0%±0.2 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.5%±0.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.5%±0.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.7%±0.5 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 22.3%±0.5 pts | 23.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5%±0.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| With a disability | 11.9%±0.4 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.9%±0.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.1%±0.4 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 42.0%±0.7 pts | 42.5% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.3%±0.5 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8%±0.2 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region earn?
Half of South Central Connecticut Planning Region's 230,673 households earn less than $88,197 a year (±$1,692), against $95,781 in Connecticut. 11.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $88,197±$1,692 | $95,781 | – |
| Mean household income | $121,469±$1,884 | $138,744 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,766±$745 | $55,915 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 11.4%±0.6 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.6%±1.5 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.5%±0.6 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.4%±0.4 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Owners occupy 60.5% of South Central Connecticut Planning Region's occupied homes and renters 39.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $353,100 by its owner (±$3,843). The median renter pays $1,525 a month including utilities, and 44.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $353,100±$3,843 | $366,900 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,525±$24 | $1,488 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.5%±1.6 pts | 43.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,377±$25 | $2,429 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.5%±0.8 pts | 66.5% | – |
| Housing units | 248,267±187 | 1,541,822 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5%±0.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 52.8%±0.6 pts | 58.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.1%±0.7 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region building?
Builders took permits for 1,020 new housing units across South Central Connecticut Planning Region in 2025 (161 single-family), 1.8 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region get to work?
69.4% of South Central Connecticut Planning Region's workers drive alone and 14.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.0%.
| Measure | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.1%±0.6 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0%±0.5 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 69.4%±0.8 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.2%±0.5 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.0%±0.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Walked | 4.6%±0.3 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.3%±0.6 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.5 min±0.4 | 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region's census tracts?
South Central Connecticut Planning Region is divided into 136 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $21,150 (Tract 1402) to $197,778 (Tract 1602).
All 136 census tracts of South Central Connecticut 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region compare with Connecticut's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 3rd of 9 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 8th of 9 |
| Residents per square mile | 2nd of 9 |
| Median household income | 7th of 9 |
| Median home value | 4th of 9 |
| Median gross rent | 3rd of 9 |
| Poverty rate | 2nd of 9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4th of 9 |
| Median age | 7th 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 South Central Connecticut 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.