Income and Poverty in the State of Connecticut

Contrasted against to other States throughout the US, the State of Connecticut can be recognized as having a very low poverty rate amid the residents with a poverty rate of 7.9 percent with a family income under the 1999 poverty level. The Hispanic race/ethnicity population cohort, has the uppermost poverty rate with 24.7 percent of the 2000 residents living in poverty. People aged Under 5 years are experiencing most percent people in poverty in Connecticut, reporting 11.3 percent of this age group in the area living in poverty.

Compared to States across the United States, the State of Connecticut accounted a very high median household income of $63,104 (2005 Dollars). The income level is 22.1 percent higher than the median household income in the United States of $49,133.

As the median household income witnessed a decline from 2000 to 2005 in the State of Connecticut, the Race/Ethnicity category that saw the sharpest decline in median income was the American Indian and Alaska Native Race/Ethnicity category. This group experienced a decline of 50.9 percent since the year 2000. The White population group was least impacted by the household income decline in Connecticut, undergoing a 59.1 percent increase in median household income from 2000 to 2005.

The poverty rate in the State of Connecticut has increased by 0.4 percent since the 2000 rates, moving from 7.9 percent to 8.3 percent.

The median household income in the area has declined from the inflation-adjusted 2000 income levels. The income level has decreased to $60,941, representing a 3.4 percent decline. The State of Connecticut ranks 38 of 46 states when comparing total percent of decline in median income in the US.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Connecticut range, in terms of total household income, from a high of $76,341 in Fairfield County to a low of $52,785 in Windham County.

Top ten counties in highest household income in the State of Connecticut
Total Annual Household Income (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars)

1. Fairfield County ($76,341)
2. Middlesex County ($69,235 )
3. Tolland County ($69,081)
4. Litchfield County ($65,839)
5. Hartford County ($59,385)
6. New London County ($59,256)
7. New Haven County ($57,136)
8. Windham County ($52,785)
9. Crowley County ($18.5)
10. Huerfano County ($18)


The Asian headed households reported median household incomes of $72,057. This household income level is 14.2 percent greater than the reported median household income, in the state, for all households. In the State of Connecticut, White headed households reported a median household income (2005 Dollars) of $67,296 as reported by the Decennial Census of 2000, which was 6.6 percent greater than the median household income in 2000. The American Indian and Alaska Native householders in Connecticut had a median income of $43,381, which was 31.3 percent less than the median for all households. Black or African American headed households had median income levels that were 34.9 percent less than the total 2000 reported median, with a their median reported to be $41,072. Hispanic Householders in Connecticutreported a median household income of $37,528, this median household income is 40.5 percent less than the median reported for all households in the area.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Connecticut range, in terms of rate a poverty, from a high of 9.5 percent in New Haven County to a low of 4.5 percent in Litchfield County.

Top ten counties in terms of poverty rate in the State of Connecticut
Total Percent of Population Living Below Poverty

1. New Haven County (9.5 percent)
2. Hartford County (9.3 )
3. Windham County (8.5 percent)
4. Fairfield County (6.9 percent)
5. New London County (6.4 percent)
6. Tolland County (5.6 percent)
7. Middlesex County (4.6 percent)
8. Litchfield County (4.5 percent)
9. Crowley County (18.5 percent)
10. Huerfano County (18 percent)


Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.