Compare towns
Shelton vs Plainfield vs Oronoque
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelton has the highest household income ($108k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Oronoque has the oldest population (median age 66.6).
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 | Shelton | Plainfield | Oronoque |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,889Highest |
15,141 |
4,116Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
66.6±1.6Highest 62% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
6%±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+ | 21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
53.8%±7.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±3.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Oronoque 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$72,417±$5kLowest 24% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$355,600±$26k 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,278±$352Highest 53% above CT |
| Oronoque and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,409 19% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,787Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
84.6%±20.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±11.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Oronoque 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Shelton School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.