Groundwork

Market rankings · Connecticut

Gyms and studios in Connecticut

Every metro area, small-town market and county in Connecticut, ranked by the Groundwork market score for gyms and studios, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
2,855
467 chain locations (16%)
Official establishments
1,170
−0.7% since 2019
Household spending a year
$1.7B
On memberships, classes and admissions
Listings per 10k households
19.9
34% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$582K
12% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#39 of 51
Market score 42 · Lower middle

A site report maps the gyms and studios on map listings around any address in Connecticut by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Connecticut has 2,855 gyms and studios on map listings as of September 2026. Of those, 467 are chain locations, or 16%, against 20% across the U.S. That is 19.9 per 10,000 households, 34% above the U.S. rate of 14.9.

Household spending on memberships, classes and admissions in Connecticut comes to about $1.7B a year: $1,158 per household, 18% above the U.S. average. That works out to $582K per location, 12% below the U.S. figure of $662K.

In 2023, official counts showed 1,170 businesses with payroll in Connecticut classed as fitness centers and recreation instruction, down 0.7% from 2019. That is one for every 1,226 households, against one for every 1,641 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 8.2% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 91 SBA-backed loans worth $39.5M have gone to businesses classed as fitness centers and recreation instruction in Connecticut.

Among the 50 states and DC, Connecticut ranks #39 for gyms and studios, with a Groundwork market score of 42 (lower middle). Of the 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Waterbury-Shelton metro area scores highest (59). Of the 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest (71).

Every market in Connecticut for gyms and studios

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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

Metro areas reaching Connecticut, ranked for gyms and studios by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Waterbury-Shelton, CT5928515.8$644K+3.2%#103 of 387
2Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT4919717.0$581K+2.0%#199 of 387
3Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT4789619.3$586K+3.0%#219 of 387
4Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT4687024.5$574K+3.7%#231 of 387
5New Haven, CT3847420.5$520K+2.5%#304 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Connecticut, ranked for gyms and studios by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Putnam, CT715112.9$780K+3.0%#46 of 535
2Torrington, CT578217.1$644K+2.2%#187 of 535

Counties

Counties in Connecticut, ranked for gyms and studios by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT695112.9$780K+3.0%#287 of 2,088
2Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT5919416.2$718K+4.1%#641 of 2,088
3Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT5728515.8$644K+3.2%#736 of 2,088
4Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT538217.1$644K+2.2%#906 of 2,088
5Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT5019717.0$581K+2.0%#1,062 of 2,088
6Capitol Planning Region, CT4973818.9$590K+3.1%#1,117 of 2,088
7Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT4615821.3$567K+2.3%#1,266 of 2,088
8Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT4367628.7$532K+3.5%#1,399 of 2,088
9South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT4347420.5$520K+2.5%#1,402 of 2,088

Questions

How many gyms and studios are in Connecticut?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 2,855 gyms and studios in Connecticut. 467 of them (16%) are chain locations. The listings count gyms, fitness studios, martial arts and dance studios. Official counts show 1,170 businesses with payroll classed as fitness centers and recreation instruction in 2023, down 0.7% from 2019.

How much do households in Connecticut spend on memberships, classes and admissions?

About $1.7B a year, or $1,158 per household. That is 18% above the U.S. average (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 2,855 gyms and studios on map listings, it comes to $582K per location. 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 gyms and studios?

Connecticut has 19.9 gyms and studios per 10,000 households, 34% above the U.S. rate of 14.9. Spending per location is $582K, 12% below the U.S. figure of $662K. At the U.S. ratio of gyms and studios to household spending, Connecticut would have about 2,509, against 2,855 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,226 households, against one for every 1,641 across the U.S. The official count fell 0.7% from 2019 to 2023, against +8.2% for the U.S.

Which market in Connecticut has the highest market score for gyms and studios?

Among 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Waterbury-Shelton metro area scores highest, at 59 (upper middle). Among 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest, at 71 (upper middle). Among 9 scored counties in Connecticut, the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region scores highest, at 69 (upper middle). 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 42 for gyms and studios (lower middle), #39 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 gyms and studios 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.

Gyms, studios and classes in other states

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Top markets for gyms and studios across the U.S. · All business types in Connecticut

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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.