Metro area profile · Connecticut
Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area market data
How the Waterbury-Shelton metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 463,349
- +3.2% since 2020
- Households
- 180,116
- Median household income
- $86,191
- Median home value
- $317,700
- Jobs located here
- 164,434
- Highest market score
- 89
- Clothing and shoe stores, #4 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Waterbury-Shelton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Waterbury-Shelton metro area has an estimated 463,349 people and 180,116 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Waterbury-Shelton metro area grew 3.2%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area is $86,191, 7% above the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area runs highest on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on pets (76).
Of the business types scored in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area, clothing and shoe stores (89); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (88); and real estate agents and brokers (82) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For clothing and shoe stores, that ranks #4 of 387 scored metro areas.
The Waterbury-Shelton metro area is made up of one county, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for electricians (88% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (46% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Waterbury-Shelton metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing and shoe stores | 89 | #4 of 387 | 159 | 8.8 | $2.7M | 213 | 62 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 88 | #6 of 387 | 268 | 14.9 | $1.6M | 183 | 90 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 82 | #4 of 387 | 389 | 21.6 | Index only | 159 | 70 |
| Real estate | 81 | #6 of 387 | 490 | 27.2 | Index only | 159 | 188 |
| Home inspectors | 78 | #11 of 243 | 10 | 0.6 | Index only | 129 | 6 |
| Spas and skin care | 77 | #10 of 387 | 142 | 7.9 | $1.3M | 153 | 31 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 76 | #19 of 290 | 5 | 0.3 | $31.8M | 232 | 4 |
| Property management | 74 | #19 of 374 | 40 | 2.2 | Index only | 152 | 71 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 73 | #46 of 387 | 1,725 | 95.8 | $439K | 118 | 783 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 73 | #55 of 387 | 223 | 12.4 | $3.4M | 111 | 332 |
| Gyms | 72 | #31 of 387 | 126 | 7.0 | $1.5M | 112 | 44 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 71 | #29 of 373 | 51 | 2.8 | Index only | 170 | 25 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 70 | #37 of 347 | 34 | 1.9 | $5.4M | 133 | 44 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 69 | #48 of 387 | 159 | 8.8 | $4.8M | 129 | 100 |
| Convenience stores | 68 | #68 of 387 | 114 | 6.3 | $11M | 139 | 66 |
| Pest control | 66 | #67 of 345 | 22 | 1.2 | $11M | 108 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 66 | #73 of 387 | 935 | 51.9 | $810K | 122 | 345 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 66 | #82 of 387 | 294 | 16.3 | $4.3M | 126 | 159 |
| Hair salons | 65 | #56 of 387 | 393 | 21.8 | $483K | 112 | 106 |
| House cleaning | 64 | #80 of 375 | 36 | 2.0 | $6.7M | 105 | 65 |
| Barbershops | 64 | #89 of 387 | 112 | 6.2 | $1.7M | 90 | 5 |
| Tire shops | 64 | #107 of 386 | 54 | 3.0 | $2.9M | 118 | 17 |
| Insurance agencies | 63 | #115 of 387 | 176 | 9.8 | $1.6M | 128 | 109 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 62 | #50 of 197 | 10 | 0.6 | $22.7M | 92 | 7 |
| Roofing and gutters | 62 | #99 of 381 | 87 | 4.8 | $6.8M | 81 | 26 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 61 | #112 of 387 | 96 | 5.3 | $2.4M | 133 | 268 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 60 | #119 of 387 | 163 | 9.0 | $4.6M | 112 | 117 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #103 of 387 | 285 | 15.8 | $644K | 97 | 96 |
| Veterinarians | 59 | #131 of 384 | 43 | 2.4 | $2.9M | 106 | 35 |
| Chiropractors | 57 | #142 of 386 | 86 | 4.8 | $2.6M | 110 | 47 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 56 | #133 of 387 | 801 | 44.5 | $237K | 111 | 237 |
| Pizza | 56 | #150 of 387 | 185 | 10.3 | $4.1M | 81 | 332 |
| Dry cleaners | 55 | #119 of 272 | 29 | 1.6 | $14.9M | 95 | 15 |
| Auto repair and car care | 55 | #163 of 387 | 576 | 32.0 | $276K | 103 | 237 |
| Child care and preschools | 55 | #166 of 387 | 124 | 6.9 | $944K | 94 | 119 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 54 | #168 of 387 | 133 | 7.4 | $4.5M | 94 | 180 |
| Laundromats | 52 | #171 of 364 | 37 | 2.1 | $11.6M | 93 | 13 |
| Car washes and detailing | 50 | #191 of 387 | 73 | 4.1 | $2.2M | 87 | 23 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 50 | #195 of 387 | 1,538 | 85.4 | $147K | 97 | 594 |
| Grocery stores | 50 | #205 of 387 | 133 | 7.4 | $9.4M | 101 | 93 |
| Funeral homes | 49 | #186 of 377 | 51 | 2.8 | $563K | 83 | 25 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 48 | #223 of 386 | 79 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 92 | 28 |
| Auto repair shops | 47 | #228 of 387 | 351 | 19.5 | $453K | 102 | 188 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 45 | #217 of 387 | 191 | 10.6 | $1.3M | 76 | 278 |
| Home repair trades | 45 | #229 of 387 | 304 | 16.9 | $2M | 81 | 384 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 45 | #229 of 387 | 236 | 13.1 | $960K | 98 | 163 |
| Gas stations | 44 | #240 of 387 | 174 | 9.7 | $2.1M | 87 | 128 |
| Physical therapy | 42 | #249 of 386 | 107 | 5.9 | $2.1M | 88 | 81 |
| Pet businesses | 42 | #259 of 387 | 165 | 9.2 | $752K | 86 | 90 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 40 | #292 of 387 | 125 | 6.9 | $1.5M | 73 | 52 |
| Nail salons | 38 | #317 of 387 | 136 | 7.6 | $1.4M | 84 | 94 |
| Electricians | 35 | #316 of 383 | 84 | 4.7 | $7.1M | 59 | 178 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 33 | #304 of 385 | 133 | 7.4 | $1.8M | 62 | 200 |
| Pet stores | 33 | #316 of 382 | 40 | 2.2 | $3.1M | 69 | 13 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 30 | #327 of 386 | 67 | 3.7 | $1.9M | 73 | 42 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 28 | #332 of 381 | 63 | 3.5 | $2.5M | 82 | 57 |
Household spending in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $159.1M | $884 | 92 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $362.7M | $2,014 | 78 |
| Food away from home | $757.3M | $4,205 | 103 |
| Groceries | $1.3B | $6,946 | 110 |
| Personal care products and services | $189.9M | $1,054 | 105 |
| Child care and other personal services | $117.1M | $650 | 112 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $183.6M | $1,020 | 104 |
| Medical and dental services | $226.6M | $1,258 | 98 |
| Pets | $124.1M | $689 | 76 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $431M | $2,393 | 116 |
| Vehicle insurance | $282.9M | $1,571 | 80 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $594.4M | $3,300 | 109 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $242.3M | $1,345 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $3.4B | $18,779 | 113 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 463,349+3.2% since 2020
- Households
- 180,116
- Median age
- 42.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 69%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 413 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,102
- Median household income
- $86,191
- Average household income
- $114,324
- Median home value
- $317,700
- Jobs located here
- 164,434
- Daytime population
- 395,318Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Waterbury-Shelton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area 1
- Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT454,969 people
Other markets based in Connecticut 6
- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area1,153,112 people
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area956,330 people
- New Haven, CT metro area570,598 people
- Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro area279,971 people
- Torrington, CT area113,216 people
- Putnam, CT area96,312 people
Questions
How fast is the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Waterbury-Shelton metro area at 463,349 people in 2025, up 3.2% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 180,116 households.
How much do households in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area spend?
Households in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area spend about $3.4B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.3B on groceries and $757.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area spend the most on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on pets (76).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area are for clothing and shoe stores (89); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (88); and real estate agents and brokers (82). The Waterbury-Shelton metro area ranks #4 of 387 scored metro areas for clothing and shoe stores.
How does the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area is $86,191 a year, 7% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $317,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Waterbury-Shelton metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for electricians (88% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (46% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Connecticut · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Waterbury-Shelton metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Waterbury-Shelton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.