Unemployment in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut, is higher than in 89% of U.S. counties
In Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, 5.6% of the labor force was out of work, on average (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026). That is higher than in 89% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 59% of U.S. counties.
What drives Naugatuck Valley Planning Region's score
In Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 88.2. About one in four renters (26.2%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 90% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 62.8.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (4.8%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($81,346, 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Naugatuck Valley Planning Region ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 88.2 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorHUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income25.7% · fiscal year 202786th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent26.2% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
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- 62.8 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.5% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average5.6% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202689th percentile
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- 53.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.9% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a credit card behind6.0% · August 202559th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score24.9% · Q4 202556th percentile
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- 41.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector21.8% · August 202545th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people104.6 · 202538th percentile
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- 32.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line17.9% · 202454th percentile
- People with a disability13.8% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,346 · 202418th percentile
- People below the poverty line12.5% · 202444th percentile
- People without health insurance4.8% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
Connecticut
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Naugatuck Valley Planning Region in 2024, pay from work was 69 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 12 cents. Benefit checks were 20 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 8 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, benefit checks rose from 8 to 20 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut: 20.0% and 68.5% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 20.0% of all personal income in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Naugatuck Valley Planning Region has changed
Unemployment fell from 5.9% in 1990 to 4.5% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.9% | 2025 4.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 8.1% | 2024 12.5% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $36,601 | 2024 $81,346 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 7.8% | 2024 20.0% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region's history
2013
2013, established to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalent. Wikipedia
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region beside its neighbors
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region scores higher than all five counties that border it. Of the group, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (20.0%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT | 59 | 12.5% | 20.0% |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 55 | 11.5% | 20.0% |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | 49 | 11.4% | 11.1% |
| Capitol Planning Region, CT | 48 | 10.4% | 17.1% |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT | 27 | 8.6% | 17.0% |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 27 | 7.8% | 7.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Naugatuck Valley Planning Region the poorest county in Connecticut?
Yes, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region's poverty rate was 12.5% in 2024, the highest of 9 counties in Connecticut (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region ranks 1st of 9 in the state.
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut?
12.5% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in eight people. Among children it was 17.9%.
Is Naugatuck Valley Planning Region the poorest county in Connecticut?
Yes, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region's poverty rate was 12.5% in 2024, the highest of 9 counties in Connecticut (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region ranks 1st of 9 in the state.
What is the population of Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut?
About 462,220 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Connecticut Legal Services (CLS)
Legal aid
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Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,311 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Naugatuck Valley Planning Region · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.