Compare towns
Newington vs Wallingford 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 most affordable homes ($310k median).
Wallingford has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | Newington | Wallingford | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,896Lowest |
44,362Highest |
41,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.3±1.7Highest 10% above CT |
42.6±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
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% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Newington and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,884±$6kLowest 7% above CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Shelton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,400±$9kLowest 15% below CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$107 about the CT average |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% 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 |
$5,963 10% below CT |
$5,409Lowest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
13.3%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Newington 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 | #87 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Newington School District | Wallingford School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Newington High School | Lyman Hall High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
10.5Lowest |
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.