What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ansonia has the most affordable homes ($287k median).

Shelton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ansonia	Shelton
People
Population	19,033Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest CT: +0.9%	+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	40.1±1.6Lowest about the CT average	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Ansonia and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,877±$10kLowest 10% below CT	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$14kLowest 22% below CT	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,476±$121Lowest about the CT average	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT
	Shelton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,446Highest 18% below CT	$5,409Lowest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest CT: 10%	6.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	76.5%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	30 minHighest 14% above CT
Work from home	9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Shelton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 149 in CT	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District	Shelton School District
High school in town	Emmett O'Brien Technical High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.