Compare towns
Shelton vs Union 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Oronoque has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Union | Oronoque |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,889Highest |
944Lowest |
4,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
66.6±1.6Highest 62% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
6%±2.8Lowest 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%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
53.8%±7.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±3.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Oronoque 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±$14k 7% below CT |
$72,417±$5kLowest 24% below CT |
| Shelton and Union 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±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
$355,600±$26k 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216Lowest 17% above 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 | $5,409 19% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,787Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
84.6%±20.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Oronoque 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% CT: 10% |
5.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±11.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Oronoque 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 | — | — |
| School district | Shelton School District | Union School District | — |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.