What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelton has the most kids (18.9% under 18).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Thompson
People
Population	41,889Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	21.4%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Thompson and Shelton 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%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average
	Shelton and Thompson 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	$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,409Highest 19% below CT	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±9.8Lowest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest CT: 10%	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above CT	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Shelton and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Shelton School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Shelton High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	7.9Lowest
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.