What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).

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	Bloomfield	Shelton
People
Population	21,754Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT	44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT
	Bloomfield and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Bloomfield and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,725±$14kLowest 3% above CT	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT
	Shelton and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$286,900±$11kLowest 22% below CT	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT	$1,741±$216Lowest 17% above CT
	Bloomfield and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,795Highest 13% below CT	$5,409Lowest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±11.2Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest CT: 10%	6.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	76.5%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below CT	30 minHighest 14% above CT
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Bloomfield and Shelton 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	#139 of 149 in CT	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council	Shelton School District
High school in town	Academy of International Studies 6-12	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	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.