Compare towns
Shelton vs Union 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,889Highest |
944Lowest |
30,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
45.3±1.7 10% above CT |
| Union and Newington 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% 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 |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$310,400±$9kLowest 15% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
— | $1,524±$107Lowest 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 |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,321Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
78.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #87 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Shelton School District | Union School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | None in town | Newington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 13.9Lowest |
| 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.