Compare towns
Shelton vs Thompson vs Southington
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Southington has the most people working from home (17.3%).
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 | Thompson | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,889 |
9,337Lowest |
43,803Highest |
| 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 |
45±1.4 9% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Southington 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Southington 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Southington 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$373,800±$10k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,472±$77 about the CT average |
| Shelton and Southington 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,206Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Southington 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Shelton School District | Thompson School District | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.