What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Plainfield	Shelton
People
Population	15,141Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Plainfield and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1%
	Shelton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,209Lowest 37% below CT	$5,409Highest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest CT: 10%	6.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	76.5%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	30 minHighest 14% above CT
Work from home	10%±4Lowest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Shelton and Plainfield 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	#131 of 149 in CT	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Plainfield School District	Shelton School District
High school in town	Plainfield High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	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.