Groundwork

Market rankings · Connecticut

Restaurants and cafes in Connecticut

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

Listings
16,104
4,306 chain locations (27%)
Official establishments
7,560
+3.5% since 2019
Household spending a year
$6.5B
On food away from home
Listings per 10k households
112.3
2% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$401K
8% above the U.S.
Rank among states
#13 of 51
Market score 61 · Upper middle

A site report maps the restaurants and cafes 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 16,104 restaurants and cafes in Connecticut. 4,306 of them (27%) are chain locations, against 34% across the U.S. That comes to 112.3 for every 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 109.8.

At $4,498 per household (11% above the U.S. average), households in Connecticut spend about $6.5B a year on food away from home. That works out to $401K per restaurant, 8% above the U.S. figure of $371K.

In 2023, official counts showed 7,560 businesses with payroll in Connecticut classed as restaurants and other eating places, up 3.5% from 2019. That is one for every 190 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 313 SBA-backed loans worth $107.2M have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in Connecticut.

Among the 50 states and DC, Connecticut ranks #13 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 61 (upper middle). Of the 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Waterbury-Shelton metro area scores highest (73). Of the 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest (85).

Every market in Connecticut for restaurants and cafes

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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 restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Waterbury-Shelton, CT731,72595.8$439K+3.2%#46 of 387
2Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT614,920105.8$421K+3.0%#121 of 387
3Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT564,453125.4$398K+3.7%#149 of 387
4Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT391,361117.6$354K+2.0%#266 of 387
5New Haven, CT392,879124.8$344K+2.5%#268 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Connecticut, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Putnam, CT8529775.4$564K+3.0%#11 of 538
2Torrington, CT7146998.0$450K+2.2%#73 of 538

Counties

Counties in Connecticut, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT7529775.4$564K+3.0%#238 of 2,405
2Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT631,72595.8$439K+3.2%#639 of 2,405
3Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT6146998.0$450K+2.2%#718 of 2,405
4Capitol Planning Region, CT584,063103.9$424K+3.1%#833 of 2,405
5Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT551,373114.8$388K+4.1%#977 of 2,405
6Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT543,080130.9$403K+3.5%#1,013 of 2,405
7Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT53857115.7$404K+2.3%#1,055 of 2,405
8South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT442,879124.8$344K+2.5%#1,468 of 2,405
9Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT431,361117.6$354K+2.0%#1,499 of 2,405

Questions

How many restaurants and cafes are in Connecticut?

There are 16,104 restaurants and cafes on map listings in Connecticut as of September 2026. 4,306 of them (27%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 7,560 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, up 3.5% from 2019. Another 1,562 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.

How much do households in Connecticut spend on food away from home?

About $6.5B a year, or $4,498 per household. That is 11% above the U.S. average (an index of 111, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 16,104 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $401K per restaurant. 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 restaurants and cafes?

Connecticut has 112.3 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $401K, 8% above the U.S. figure of $371K. At the national ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, Connecticut would have about 17,397, against 16,104 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 190 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count rose 3.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.

Which market in Connecticut has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?

Among 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Connecticut, the Waterbury-Shelton metro area scores highest, at 73 (upper middle). Among 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Connecticut, the Putnam area scores highest, at 85 (high). Among 9 scored counties in Connecticut, the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region scores highest, at 75 (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 61 for restaurants and cafes (upper middle), #13 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 restaurants and cafes 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.

Restaurants and cafes in other states

All 51 states

Top markets for restaurants and cafes 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.