Compare towns
Shelton vs Windham vs Plainfield vs Monroe
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Windham | Plainfield | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,889Highest |
23,961 |
15,141Lowest |
18,949 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
| Shelton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$13k 23% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,409 19% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Monroe 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Shelton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | Shelton High School | Windham High School | Plainfield High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.