What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelton has the most renters (23.5% rent).

Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).

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	Monroe
People
Population	41,889Highest	18,949Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT
	Shelton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2%	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest CT: 42.5%	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Shelton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,185±$11kLowest 13% above CT	$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,600±$13kLowest 23% above CT	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT
	Shelton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,409Lowest 19% below CT	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Monroe 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%	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above CT	34 minHighest 29% above CT
Work from home	13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%	15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16%
	Monroe 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	#48 of 149 in CT
School district	Shelton School District	Monroe School District
High school in town	Shelton High School	Masuk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	12.8Lowest
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.