What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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	Plainville	Shelton
People
Population	17,551Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT
	Shelton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Plainville and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT	$5,409Highest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%	6.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%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	21 minLowest 20% below CT	30 minHighest 14% above CT
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Shelton and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Shelton School District
High school in town	Plainville High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	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.