Compare towns
Newington vs Windham vs Wethersfield 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Wethersfield has the most people working from home (18%).
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 | Windham | Wethersfield | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,896 |
23,961Lowest |
27,250 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.3±1.7Highest 10% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.4±1.5 6% 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.4%±2 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,884±$6k 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
| Wethersfield and Shelton 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$107 about the CT average |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,370±$150 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 | $6,321 5% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.9% CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #92 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Newington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Newington High School | Windham High School | Wethersfield High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
9.8Lowest |
13.8 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.