Compare towns
Shelton vs Suffield vs Wallingford 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 most expensive homes ($453k median).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Wallingford has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Suffield | Wallingford | Oronoque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,889 |
15,702 |
44,362Highest |
4,116Lowest |
| 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 |
42.6±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
66.6±1.6Highest 62% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
6%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Wallingford 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
53.8%±7.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±3.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Oronoque and Wallingford 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±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$72,417±$5kLowest 24% below CT |
| Suffield and Shelton 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$353,100±$8kLowest 4% below CT |
$355,600±$26k 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216 17% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% 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 | $5,409Lowest 19% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,963 10% below CT |
$6,787Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
84.6%±20.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
5.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
13.3%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±11.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Oronoque and Suffield 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Shelton School District | Suffield School District | Wallingford School District | — |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | Suffield High School | Lyman Hall High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.9 |
10.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.