Compare towns
Plainfield vs Shelton vs Ansonia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Shelton | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Lowest |
41,889Highest |
19,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-1.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia and Shelton 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 |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,476±$121 about the CT average |
| Shelton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Shelton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Shelton High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.