Market rankings · Connecticut
Dry cleaners in Connecticut
Markets across Connecticut ranked by the Groundwork market score for dry cleaners, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 263
- 69 chain locations (26%)
- Official establishments
- 230
- −23.8% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $3.7B
- On clothing, shoes and related services
- Listings per 10k households
- 1.8
- 38% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $14M
- 11% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #34 of 51
- Market score 41 · Lower middle
A site report maps the dry cleaners on map listings around any address in Connecticut by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
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
Map listings as of September 2026 show 263 dry cleaners in Connecticut. Of those, 69 are chain locations, or 26%, against 23% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 1.8, 38% above the U.S. rate of 1.3.
At $2,564 per household (25% above the U.S. average), households in Connecticut spend about $3.7B a year on clothing, shoes and related services. That is about $14M of household spending for each shop on map listings, 11% below the U.S. figure of $15.7M. That spending covers all clothing, shoes and related services, which dry cleaners share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 230 businesses with payroll in Connecticut classed as dry cleaning and laundry services, down 23.8% from 2019. That is one for every 6,235 households, against one for every 8,177 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 18.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 12 SBA-backed loans worth $4.9M have gone to businesses classed as dry cleaning and laundry services in Connecticut.
Among the 50 states and DC, Connecticut ranks #34 for dry cleaners, with a Groundwork market score of 41 (lower middle). Of the 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Norwich-New London-Willimantic metro area scores highest (81). Among 8 scored counties, the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region scores highest (80).
Every market in Connecticut for dry cleaners
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Connecticut, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 81 | 8 | 0.7 | $34.2M | +2.0% | #9 of 272 |
| 2Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 58 | 56 | 1.2 | $21M | +3.0% | #95 of 272 |
| 3Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 55 | 29 | 1.6 | $14.9M | +3.2% | #119 of 272 |
| 4New Haven, CT | 39 | 48 | 2.1 | $11.8M | +2.5% | #197 of 272 |
| 5Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 33 | 114 | 3.2 | $8.9M | +3.7% | #221 of 272 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torrington, CT | Not scored | 5 | 1.0 | $23.9M | +2.2% | |
| Putnam, CT | Not scored | 3 | 0.8 | $31.4M | +3.0% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 80 | 8 | 0.7 | $34.2M | +2.0% | #13 of 507 |
| 2Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT | 73 | 5 | 1.0 | $23.9M | +2.2% | #46 of 507 |
| 3Capitol Planning Region, CT | 67 | 44 | 1.1 | $22.3M | +3.1% | #86 of 507 |
| 4Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT | 61 | 29 | 1.6 | $14.9M | +3.2% | #156 of 507 |
| 5Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT | 51 | 12 | 1.6 | $16.3M | +2.3% | #249 of 507 |
| 6South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 44 | 48 | 2.1 | $11.8M | +2.5% | #315 of 507 |
| 7Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | 43 | 28 | 2.3 | $10.9M | +4.1% | #326 of 507 |
| 8Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 33 | 86 | 3.7 | $8.3M | +3.5% | #416 of 507 |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | Not scored | 3 | 0.8 | $31.4M | +3.0% |
Markets with fewer than 5 dry cleaners on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many dry cleaners are in Connecticut?
There are 263 dry cleaners on map listings in Connecticut as of September 2026. 69 of them (26%) are chain locations. The listings count dry cleaners. Official counts show 230 businesses with payroll classed as dry cleaning and laundry services in 2023, down 23.8% from 2019.
How much do households in Connecticut spend on clothing, shoes and related services?
About $3.7B a year, or $2,564 per household. That is 25% above the U.S. average (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 263 dry cleaners on map listings, it comes to $14M per shop. The spending figure covers all clothing, shoes and related services, not only dry cleaners. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,434,007 households in Connecticut and national spending patterns by income.
How does Connecticut compare with the U.S. for dry cleaners?
Connecticut has 1.8 dry cleaners per 10,000 households, 38% above the U.S. rate of 1.3. Spending per shop is $14M, 11% below the U.S. figure of $15.7M. At the national ratio of dry cleaners to household spending, Connecticut would have about 235, against 263 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 6,235 households, against one for every 8,177 across the U.S. The official count fell 23.8% from 2019 to 2023, against −18.7% for the U.S.
Which market in Connecticut has the highest market score for dry cleaners?
Among 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Norwich-New London-Willimantic metro area scores highest, at 81 (high). Among 8 scored counties in Connecticut, the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region scores highest, at 80 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
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. Connecticut scores 41 for dry cleaners (lower middle), #34 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Connecticut. It maps the dry cleaners 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.
Dry cleaners in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for dry cleaners across the U.S. · All business types in Connecticut
Related business types in Connecticut
- Clothing, shoes and laundry3,517 listings
- Clothing and shoe stores2,287 listings
- Laundromats320 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Connecticut?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
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.