What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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	Putnam
People
Population	41,889Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT	43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT
	Shelton and Putnam 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%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Putnam 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%	18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Putnam 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%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Shelton and Putnam 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	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT	$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,409Highest 19% below CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest CT: 10%	11.5%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Highest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above CT	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Shelton and Putnam 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Shelton School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Shelton High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	9.5Lowest
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.