Compare towns
Shelton vs Putnam vs Newington
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 most expensive homes ($453k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Newington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Putnam | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,889Highest |
9,292Lowest |
30,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
45.3±1.7Highest 10% above CT |
| Newington and Shelton 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%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±1.6Lowest 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% |
21.2%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton and Newington 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% |
40% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Newington 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$102,884±$6k 7% above CT |
| Shelton and Newington 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$310,400±$9k 15% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,524±$107 about the CT average |
| Shelton and Newington 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,321Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.9%±2.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Newington 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #87 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Shelton School District | Putnam School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | Putnam High School | Newington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
13.9 |
| 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.