What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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	Chaplin	Shelton
People
Population	2,070Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Chaplin and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,524Lowest 32% below CT	$5,409Highest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest CT: 10%	6.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT	1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above CT	30 minLowest 14% above CT
Work from home	18.1%±10Highest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Chaplin 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	—	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Shelton School District
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	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.