Bridgeport, home to 145,000 people, is the largest, most densely populated city in Connecticut. It is also one of Connecticut's poorest cities and one of the poorest cities in the nation, despite being located in one of the wealthiest counties. This discrepancy in geography and economic prosperity makes it the most unequal region in America, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

Nearly 60,000 people (40 % of the population) reside in neighborhoods served only by small retailers who provide few healthy food options, and those at inflated prices. These areas are known as food deserts and have limited access to affordable healthy food. The high opportunity cost of traveling by public transportation to a major grocery store may outweigh the direct cost savings, and residents choose to consume locally available, but unhealthy foods. Likewise, there are no gyms in Bridgeport forcing health-conscious residents to travel to surrounding towns to exercise. There are a handful of fitness studios that charge premium monthly prices for personal training and group sessions.

As of July 2014, Bridgeport's unemployment rate was 10.2% compared to the state's 6.6%. Among youth age 16-19, the unemployment rate is 54.7%. In fact, an estimated 1200 Bridgeport youth are known as opportunity-youth, meaning they are neither employed nor in school

(Bridgeport Prospers, 2015).