What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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	Shelton	Chaplin
People
Population	41,889Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT	43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%	15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%	20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%	25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%	10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Chaplin and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT	$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT	$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT	$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,409Highest 19% below CT	$4,524Lowest 32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%	33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest CT: 10%	5.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	82.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above CT	32 minHighest 22% above CT
Work from home	13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%	18.1%±10Highest CT: 16%
	Chaplin 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	#71 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Shelton School District	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Shelton High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	7.5Lowest
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.