What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).

Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).

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	Windsor Locks
People
Population	41,889Highest	12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT	41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average
	Shelton and Windsor Locks 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%	18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Windsor Locks 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%	18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Windsor Locks 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%	28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Windsor Locks 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	$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT	$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT	$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT
	Shelton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,409Highest 19% below CT	$3,688Lowest 44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±9.8Lowest CT: 52.6%	58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Windsor Locks and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest CT: 10%	10.9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	77.1%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above CT	22 minLowest 17% below CT
Work from home	13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%	17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16%
	Windsor Locks 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	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Shelton School District	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	Shelton High School	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.