Compare towns

Newington vs Windsor Locks vs Shelton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.

MeasureNewingtonWindsor LocksShelton
People
Population
30,896
12,579Lowest
41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
+3.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.3±1.7Highest
10% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
44.5±1.5
8% above CT
Newington and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±1.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±1.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
Shelton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±1.6
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.4%±1.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
Shelton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
41.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.8%±1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Newington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,884±$6k
7% above CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
$108,185±$11kHighest
13% above CT
Shelton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,400±$9k
15% below CT
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
$452,600±$13kHighest
23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,524±$107
about the CT average
$1,394±$187Lowest
6% below CT
$1,741±$216Highest
17% above CT
Shelton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,321Highest
5% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$5,409
19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.9%±2.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
53.8%±9.8
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%Highest
CT: 10%
6.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
76.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
same as CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
19% below CT
22 min
17% below CT
30 minHighest
14% above CT
Work from home
14.4%±2.3
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
13.9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Newington 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 #87 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #71 of 149 in CT
School district — Windsor Locks School District Shelton School District
High school in town — Windsor Locks High School Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9Lowest
14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.