What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratford has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k 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	Stratford	Shelton
People
Population	52,790Highest	41,889Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT	44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT
	Stratford and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±1.6Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Stratford and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,815±$7kLowest about the CT average	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT
	Shelton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,200±$8kLowest about the CT average	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$75Lowest 15% above CT	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT
	Shelton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,420Highest 12% above CT	$5,409Lowest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±7.7Highest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Stratford and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest CT: 10%	6.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 9 yrs older than CT	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above CT	30 minHighest 14% above CT
Work from home	14.6%±1.9Highest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Stratford 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	#134 of 149 in CT	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Stratford School District	Shelton School District
High school in town	Stratford High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Lowest	14.3Highest
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.