Groundwork

Market rankings · Connecticut

Pet stores in Connecticut

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

Listings
336
120 chain locations (36%)
Official establishments
124
−22.5% since 2019
Household spending a year
$1.1B
On pets
Listings per 10k households
2.3
15% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$3.2M
30% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#46 of 51
Market score 23 · Low

A site report maps the pet stores 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

There are 336 pet stores on map listings in Connecticut as of September 2026. Of those, 120 are chain locations, or 36%, against 38% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 2.3, 15% above the U.S. rate of 2.0.

Household spending on pets in Connecticut comes to about $1.1B a year: $742 per household, 18% below the U.S. average. That works out to $3.2M per store, 30% below the U.S. figure of $4.5M. The spending figure covers all pets, not only pet stores.

The official count of businesses with payroll classed as pet and pet supplies stores in Connecticut was 124 in 2023, down 22.5% from 2019. That is one for every 11,565 households, against one for every 13,024 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 1.6% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 5 SBA-backed loans worth $1.9M have gone to businesses classed as pet and pet supplies stores in Connecticut.

Among the 50 states and DC, Connecticut ranks #46 for pet stores, with a Groundwork market score of 23 (low). Of the 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the New Haven metro area scores highest (38). Of the 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest (60).

Every market in Connecticut for pet stores

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

Metro areas reaching Connecticut, ranked for pet stores by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1New Haven, CT38482.1$3.4M+2.5%#280 of 382
2Waterbury-Shelton, CT33402.2$3.1M+3.2%#316 of 382
3Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT311012.8$2.9M+3.7%#326 of 382
4Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT271012.2$3.4M+3.0%#341 of 382
5Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT19262.2$3M+2.0%#370 of 382

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Connecticut, ranked for pet stores by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Putnam, CT6082.0$3.4M+3.0%#59 of 220
2Torrington, CT57122.5$2.9M+2.2%#78 of 220

Counties

Counties in Connecticut, ranked for pet stores by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT49182.4$3.2M+2.3%#505 of 974
2South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT47482.1$3.4M+2.5%#539 of 974
3Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT46312.6$2.8M+4.1%#561 of 974
4Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT42402.2$3.1M+3.2%#626 of 974
5Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT39703.0$3M+3.5%#662 of 974
6Capitol Planning Region, CT38832.1$3.4M+3.1%#670 of 974
7Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT3782.0$3.4M+3.0%#682 of 974
8Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT35122.5$2.9M+2.2%#711 of 974
9Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT30262.2$3M+2.0%#775 of 974

Questions

How many pet stores are in Connecticut?

As of September 2026, map listings count 336 pet stores in Connecticut. 120 of them (36%) are chain locations. The listings count pet stores. Official counts show 124 businesses with payroll classed as pet and pet supplies stores in 2023, down 22.5% from 2019.

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 336 pet stores on map listings, it comes to $3.2M per store. That spending covers all pets, which pet stores share with other businesses in the trade. 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 stores?

Connecticut has 2.3 pet stores per 10,000 households, 15% above the U.S. rate of 2.0. Spending per store is $3.2M, 30% below the U.S. figure of $4.5M. At the U.S. ratio of pet stores to household spending, Connecticut would have about 235, against 336 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 11,565 households, against one for every 13,024 across the U.S. The official count fell 22.5% from 2019 to 2023, against −1.6% for the U.S.

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

Among 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the New Haven metro area scores highest, at 38 (lower middle). Among 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest, at 60 (upper middle). Among 9 scored counties in Connecticut, the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region scores highest, at 49 (lower 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 23 for pet stores (low), #46 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 stores 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 stores in other states

All 51 states

Top markets for pet stores across the U.S. · All business types in Connecticut

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.

Run a site report See plans
Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Screening many markets at once? Talk to us

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.