Groundwork

Market rankings · Connecticut

Pet businesses in Connecticut

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

Listings
1,585
285 chain locations (18%)
Official establishments
864
+5.1% since 2019
Household spending a year
$1.1B
On pets
Listings per 10k households
11.1
7% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$671K
24% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#43 of 51
Market score 29 · Lower middle

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

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey 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 1,585 pet businesses in Connecticut. 285 of them (18%) are chain locations, against 17% across the U.S. That is 11.1 per 10,000 households, 7% above the U.S. rate of 10.4.

Households in Connecticut spend about $1.1B a year on pets, or $742 per household, 18% below the U.S. average. Spread across 1,585 pet businesses, that is $671K per business, 24% below the U.S. figure of $878K.

The official count of businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Connecticut was 864 in 2023, up 5.1% from 2019. That is one for every 1,660 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 11.4% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 54 SBA-backed loans worth $36.7M have gone to businesses classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Connecticut.

Among the 50 states and DC, Connecticut ranks #43 for pet businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 29 (lower middle). Of the 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the New Haven metro area scores highest (43). Of the 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Torrington area scores highest (29).

Every market in Connecticut for pet businesses

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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 pet businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1New Haven, CT432139.2$765K+2.5%#254 of 387
2Waterbury-Shelton, CT421659.2$752K+3.2%#259 of 387
3Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT3444212.5$667K+3.7%#311 of 387
4Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT2950510.9$676K+3.0%#340 of 387
5Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT2512510.8$631K+2.0%#355 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Connecticut, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Torrington, CT296814.2$509K+2.2%#468 of 527
2Putnam, CT236717.0$408K+3.0%#501 of 527

Counties

Counties in Connecticut, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT541159.6$763K+4.1%#909 of 2,200
2South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT502139.2$765K+2.5%#1,090 of 2,200
3Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT491659.2$752K+3.2%#1,134 of 2,200
4Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT4732713.9$633K+3.5%#1,244 of 2,200
5Capitol Planning Region, CT4539310.0$723K+3.1%#1,324 of 2,200
6Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT3612510.8$631K+2.0%#1,669 of 2,200
7Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT3011215.1$511K+2.3%#1,872 of 2,200
8Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT266814.2$509K+2.2%#1,985 of 2,200
9Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT226717.0$408K+3.0%#2,079 of 2,200

Questions

How many pet businesses are in Connecticut?

There are 1,585 pet businesses on map listings in Connecticut as of September 2026. 285 of them (18%) are chain locations. The listings count vets, groomers, boarding and pet stores. Official counts show 864 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in 2023, up 5.1% from 2019. Official counts list 2,190 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Connecticut spend on pets?

About $1.1B a year, or $742 per household. That is 18% below the U.S. average (an index of 82, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 1,585 pet businesses on map listings, it comes to $671K per business. 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 pet businesses?

Connecticut has 11.1 pet businesses per 10,000 households, 7% above the U.S. rate of 10.4. Spending per business is $671K, 24% below the U.S. figure of $878K. At the national ratio of pet businesses to household spending, Connecticut would have about 1,211, against 1,585 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,660 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. The official count rose 5.1% from 2019 to 2023, against +11.4% for the U.S.

Which market in Connecticut has the highest market score for pet businesses?

Among 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the New Haven metro area scores highest, at 43 (lower middle). Among 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Torrington area scores highest, at 29 (lower middle). Among 9 scored counties in Connecticut, the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region scores highest, at 54 (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 29 for pet businesses (lower middle), #43 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 pet businesses 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.

Pet businesses in other states

All 51 states

Top markets for pet businesses 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.