Groundwork

Market rankings · Connecticut

Gyms in Connecticut

Markets across Connecticut ranked by the Groundwork market score for gyms, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
1,304
323 chain locations (25%)
Official establishments
578
All fitness and recreational sports centers · −7.2% since 2019
Household spending a year
$1.7B
On memberships, classes and admissions
Listings per 10k households
9.1
20% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$1.3M
2% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#21 of 51
Market score 52 · Upper middle

A site report maps the gyms 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

As of September 2026, map listings count 1,304 gyms in Connecticut. Of those, 323 are chain locations, or 25%, against 28% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 9.1, 20% above the U.S. rate of 7.6.

Households in Connecticut spend about $1.7B a year on memberships, classes and admissions, or $1,158 per household, 18% above the U.S. average. Spread across 1,304 gyms, that is $1.3M per gym, 2% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. That spending covers all memberships, classes and admissions, which gyms share with other businesses in the trade.

In 2023, official counts showed 578 businesses with payroll in Connecticut classed as fitness and recreational sports centers, down 7.2% from 2019. That is one for every 2,481 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.8% over the same years. The official count takes in all fitness and recreational sports centers, not only gyms: yoga, Pilates and fitness studios are counted too. Since fiscal 2022, 68 SBA-backed loans worth $31.6M have gone to businesses classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in Connecticut.

Among the 50 states and DC, Connecticut ranks #21 for gyms, with a Groundwork market score of 52 (upper middle). Of the 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Waterbury-Shelton metro area scores highest (72). Of the 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest (79).

Every market in Connecticut for gyms

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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 by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Waterbury-Shelton, CT721267.0$1.5M+3.2%#31 of 387
2Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT554088.8$1.3M+3.0%#141 of 387
3Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT5539011.0$1.3M+3.7%#142 of 387
4Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT54998.6$1.2M+2.0%#152 of 387
5New Haven, CT442259.8$1.1M+2.5%#255 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Connecticut, ranked for gyms by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Putnam, CT79256.3$1.6M+3.0%#17 of 506
2Torrington, CT71316.5$1.7M+2.2%#43 of 506

Counties

Counties in Connecticut, ranked for gyms by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT76256.3$1.6M+3.0%#122 of 1,792
2Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT731267.0$1.5M+3.2%#169 of 1,792
3Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT71937.8$1.5M+4.1%#208 of 1,792
4Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT67316.5$1.7M+2.2%#283 of 1,792
5Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT62689.2$1.3M+2.3%#458 of 1,792
6Capitol Planning Region, CT593408.7$1.3M+3.1%#568 of 1,792
7Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT58998.6$1.2M+2.0%#619 of 1,792
8Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT5429712.6$1.2M+3.5%#762 of 1,792
9South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT522259.8$1.1M+2.5%#845 of 1,792

Questions

How many gyms are in Connecticut?

Connecticut has 1,304 gyms on map listings as of September 2026. 323 of them (25%) are chain locations. The listings count gyms and fitness centers. Official counts show 578 businesses with payroll classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in 2023, down 7.2% from 2019. That count covers all fitness and recreational sports centers (yoga, Pilates and fitness studios included), not only gyms.

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 1,304 gyms on map listings, it comes to $1.3M per gym. The spending figure covers all memberships, classes and admissions, not only gyms. 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?

Connecticut has 9.1 gyms per 10,000 households, 20% above the U.S. rate of 7.6. Spending per gym is $1.3M, 2% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the national ratio of gyms to household spending, Connecticut would have about 1,276, against 1,304 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 2,481 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. The official count fell 7.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.8% for the U.S.

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

Among 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Waterbury-Shelton metro area scores highest, at 72 (upper middle). Among 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest, at 79 (high). Among 9 scored counties in Connecticut, the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region scores highest, at 76 (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 52 for gyms (upper middle), #21 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 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 in other states

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Top markets for gyms 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.