USDA eligibility map: Connecticut
About 70.3% of Connecticut's area is in USDA-eligible rural areas, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA Rural Development's published eligibility map, the 50th highest share among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 1 of 9 counties have no ineligible area at all. 105 Census places in Connecticut lie mostly inside ineligible areas, including Bridgeport city, Meriden city, Danbury city, Shelton city and West Hartford CDP.
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USDA eligible area by county
The share of each county's area that is USDA eligible, and the places (cities, towns and census-designated places) at least half inside ineligible areas. These are estimates; check any single property with the lookup.
| county | Area eligible | Mostly ineligible places |
|---|---|---|
| Capitol Planning Region | 54.4% | West Hartford CDP, East Hartford CDP, Hartford city, New Britain city, Newington CDP, Wethersfield CDP, Windsor Locks CDP, Manchester CDP, and 13 more |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 37.8% | Bridgeport city, Trumbull Center CDP, Daniels Farm CDP, Tashua CDP, Long Hill CDP, Oronoque CDP, Murray CDP, Lordship CDP, and 5 more |
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 87.4% | Middletown city |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 49.0% | Shelton city, Waterbury city, Bristol city, Naugatuck borough, Ansonia city, Derby city, Oakville CDP, Cheshire Village CDP, and 1 more |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region | 95.0% | Torrington city |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 40.3% | Meriden city, Milford city (balance), North Haven CDP, New Haven city, Orange CDP, East Haven CDP, West Haven city, Wallingford Center CDP, and 3 more |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 86.8% | Norwich city, New London city, Conning Towers-Nautilus Park CDP, Old Mystic CDP, Groton city, Pawcatuck CDP, Waterford CDP, Noank CDP, and 3 more |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region | 47.0% | Danbury city, Stamford city, Norwalk city, Ridgefield CDP, Bethel CDP, Ridgebury CDP, Greenwich CDP, Staples CDP, and 30 more |
How USDA decides what is rural
The rural-area definition is section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490): open country and places not part of or associated with an urban area with up to 2,500 people, up to 10,000 if rural in character, or up to 20,000 outside a metropolitan statistical area with a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. Areas that lost rural status in the 1990 to 2020 censuses stay rural until 2030 census data arrive if they have 10,000 to 35,000 people and meet the same conditions. Income is a separate test, applied to the household by the lender and USDA.
For other address-level designations in Connecticut, the free census tract lookup shows the income level and QCT and DDA status, and Connecticut has 72 designated Opportunity Zone tracts (Opportunity Zone lookup).
Questions
Is Connecticut eligible for USDA loans?
Much of it is. About 70.3% of the state's area is outside USDA's ineligible areas (1,480 of about 4,983 square miles are ineligible). 1 counties are entirely eligible. Most people live in the larger towns, which are often ineligible, so check the specific address.
Which Connecticut counties have the least USDA eligible area?
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region (37.8% eligible), South Central Connecticut Planning Region (40.3% eligible), Western Connecticut Planning Region (47.0% eligible), Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (49.0% eligible), Capitol Planning Region (54.4% eligible). The share is of land area, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA's map; eligibility is decided for each property.
Which Connecticut towns are not eligible for USDA loans?
Places USDA's map shows as mostly inside an ineligible area include Bridgeport city, Meriden city, Danbury city, Shelton city, West Hartford CDP, Norwich city, Middletown city and Torrington city. The county table on this page lists every place that is mostly ineligible. Edges matter: part of a town, or land just outside it, can be on the other side of the line, so check the address.
How do I check a Connecticut address for USDA eligibility?
Enter the street address in the lookup on this page. It locates the address and checks it against USDA's published rural eligibility map. It is a screening: Rural Development makes the final determination on a complete application, and household income is a separate test (USDA's income eligibility tool).
When was the USDA eligibility map for Connecticut last updated?
The ineligible areas on USDA's map for Connecticut carry an effective date of July 25, 2023. USDA updates the map from ineligible-area changes sent in by its state offices. The statute keeps formerly rural areas of 10,000 to 35,000 people rural until data from the 2030 census arrive, if they still meet its conditions.
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Legal references
- 42 U.S.C. 1490, definition of rural area (Housing Act of 1949, section 520)
Areas are computed by HeritageDeed: estimates, not USDA figures. USDA's map is not a final determination; Rural Development decides on a complete application. HeritageDeed is not affiliated with USDA.
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