Population 21,234 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Branford
Household size in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.53 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.02 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Households in Branford are small: just 2.22 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.36, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 39.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.9 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.2 | 41.4 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.8 | 41.7 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.7 | +2.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 53.8, Branford is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.1, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 12.7% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 12.4% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 12.0% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 13.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +0.8 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Branford: 7.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Branford
Renters in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 34.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.3% | 36.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 38.2% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 37.6% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +2.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.1% of households in Branford rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 37.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the east.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 10.6% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 8.0% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Branford as nationally: 8.8%, against 9.6%. Branford has a higher vacancy rate than most Connecticut cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1961 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1961 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1961 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1964 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Branford is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Even so, homes here are newer than in the wider New Haven area, where the median home dates to 1964. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,238 | $1,093 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,362 | $1,175 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,411 | $1,288 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,788 | $1,584 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$550 | +$491 | +$575 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Branford costs $1,788 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $550 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Branford
Bachelor's degrees in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3% | 31.6% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.5% | 33.1% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.1% | 34.5% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.9% | 38.5% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +6.9 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Branford: 52.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.6 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.6% | 87.4% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.4% | 88.4% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 89.6% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 90.6% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Branford: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Branford
| Period | Branford | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 8.5% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.7% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 6.4% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Branford than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Branford compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branford | 2.22 | 53.8 | 7.6% | 21.1% | 8.8% | 1970 | $1,788 | 52.9% | 95.4% | 4.0% |
| Branford Center | 1.99 | 47.2 | 5.6% | 58.3% | 1.6% | 1970 | $1,620 | 45.3% | 96.8% | 4.1% |
| East Haven | 2.41 | 46.4 | 9.9% | 30.1% | 7.7% | 1962 | $1,693 | 31.8% | 91.4% | 4.9% |
| Stony Creek | 2.59 | 52.2 | 7.4% | 11.7% | 7.4% | 1976 | $1,918 | 57.1% | 96.0% | 6.7% |
| North Branford | 2.48 | 50.9 | 12.4% | 12.5% | 5.9% | 1976 | $1,946 | 32.8% | 95.6% | 6.7% |
| New Haven area | 2.53 | 41.7 | 13.5% | 37.6% | 8.0% | 1964 | $1,584 | 38.5% | 90.6% | 6.4% |
| Guilford | 2.55 | 50.6 | 6.1% | 16.7% | 9.6% | 1974 | $1,738 | 60.9% | 98.2% | 4.4% |
| North Haven | 2.62 | 44.6 | 6.3% | 18.5% | 3.5% | 1968 | $1,860 | 47.7% | 95.6% | 1.9% |
| West Haven | 2.59 | 38.0 | 13.5% | 49.5% | 5.9% | 1959 | $1,488 | 31.7% | 88.2% | 7.5% |
| Northford | 2.78 | 46.4 | 8.8% | 9.7% | 4.8% | 1975 | $1,433 | 37.6% | 94.5% | 3.6% |
| Hamden | 2.52 | 40.8 | 11.1% | 38.1% | 9.0% | 1964 | $1,652 | 48.4% | 94.4% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Danville, KY · East Liverpool, OH · Talladega, AL · Durant, OK · St. Joseph, MI · Stephens City, VA · Warrington, PA · DeFuniak Springs, FL · Deerfield, IL · Davidson, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Branford. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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