Compare towns
Shelton vs Suffield vs Monroe vs Stratford
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 renters (23.5% rent).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Stratford has the most affordable homes ($372k 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.
| Measure | Shelton | Suffield | Monroe | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,889 |
15,702Lowest |
18,949 |
52,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Stratford and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stratford 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±$11k 13% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$95,815±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$13k 23% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$372,200±$8kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,706±$75 15% above CT |
| Shelton and Stratford 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,420 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.3%±7.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stratford and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1958Lowest 9 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Monroe 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #134 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Shelton School District | Suffield School District | Monroe School District | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | Suffield High School | Masuk High School | Stratford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.9Lowest |
12.8 |
13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.