What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelton has the most people working from home (13.9%).

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shelton	Webster
People
Population	41,889Highest	17,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shelton and Webster 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 U.S.: 35.7%	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,185±$11kHighest 34% above U.S.	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,600±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.	$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,741±$216Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,409Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shelton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#71 of 149 in CT	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Shelton School District	Webster
High school in town	Shelton High School	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.