Population 10,167 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Old Saybrook
Household size in Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.21 | 2.51 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.52 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.49 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.47 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.04 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Households in Old Saybrook are small: just 2.30 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. Household size has climbed from 2.21 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.4 | 40.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.1 | 41.2 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.3 | 41.9 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 55.0 | 41.9 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +1.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Old Saybrook skews older: half of its residents are older than 55.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 51.4, in line with the national trend. No other Connecticut city with 5,000+ people is 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 Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 11.4% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 12.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 10.7% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 11.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −0.4 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.2% of households in Old Saybrook, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Old Saybrook has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Connecticut cities.
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 Old Saybrook
Renters in Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 31.0% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.2% | 32.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.8% | 33.7% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 32.7% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.0% of households in Old Saybrook rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly half of owners (48.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the south. The renter share is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 8.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.2% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.2% of the housing in Old Saybrook, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 7.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1966 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Old Saybrook is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,321 | $1,014 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,751 | $1,114 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,634 | $1,229 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,815 | $1,559 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$494 | +$545 | +$575 | +$606 |
Rent in Old Saybrook runs $1,815 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $494 a month since 2006–10, up 37%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 37.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Old Saybrook
Bachelor's degrees in Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.8% | 35.0% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.7% | 36.2% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.7% | 39.1% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 56.6% | 41.8% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.8 pts | +6.8 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Old Saybrook is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (56.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 12.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the north.
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 Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.5% | 88.3% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 89.6% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.5% | 90.7% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.0% | 91.8% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +3.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Old Saybrook: 96.0% 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 2.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Old Saybrook
| Period | Old Saybrook | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 5.2% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Old Saybrook has been strong: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.8 points, 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).
Old Saybrook 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Saybrook | 2.30 | 55.0 | 5.2% | 15.0% | 23.2% | 1970 | $1,815 | 56.6% | 96.0% | 2.6% |
| Fenwick | 2.26 | 61.4 | 4.6% | 8.8% | 39.8% | 1955 | $1,596 | 60.9% | 99.1% | 2.5% |
| Westbrook | 1.91 | 54.7 | 4.7% | 24.8% | 15.2% | 1969 | $1,378 | 41.6% | 91.8% | 2.3% |
| Centerbrook | 2.24 | 48.4 | 3.5% | 23.1% | 12.0% | 1975 | $1,768 | 50.4% | 96.8% | 3.4% |
| Essex | 2.15 | 59.6 | 9.8% | 19.0% | 9.5% | 1966 | $1,997 | 61.1% | 97.6% | 4.0% |
| Ivoryton | 2.53 | 40.4 | 2.7% | 22.9% | 15.8% | 1968 | $1,510 | 46.4% | 96.7% | 1.3% |
| Old Lyme | 2.40 | 51.9 | 4.9% | 10.3% | 23.5% | 1967 | $2,316 | 58.1% | 98.0% | 2.6% |
| Essex Village | 2.16 | 59.9 | 4.8% | 11.1% | 16.7% | 1973 | $1,664 | 60.8% | 98.2% | 2.9% |
| Laysville | 2.52 | 47.0 | 12.0% | 19.7% | 9.7% | 1977 | $2,175 | 49.0% | 99.7% | 1.9% |
| Deep River | 2.38 | 45.3 | 10.8% | 32.7% | 6.9% | 1968 | $1,199 | 45.6% | 92.8% | 3.0% |
| Hamburg | 2.27 | 56.3 | 6.7% | 9.2% | 16.6% | 1969 | $1,749 | 62.3% | 98.7% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Park Hills, MO · Narragansett, RI · Nebo, NC · New Boston, MI · Newmarket, NH · Newtonville, MA · Niantic, CT · North Chelmsford, MA · Nuevo, CA · Oaklyn, NJ
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 Old Saybrook. 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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