What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).

Shelton has the most kids (18.9% under 18).

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	Suffield	Shelton
People
Population	15,702Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	44.5±1.7 8% above CT	44.5±1.5 8% above CT
Kids under 18	16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
	Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1%
	Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT	$108,185±$11kLowest 13% above CT
	Suffield and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT
	Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,456Highest about the CT average	$5,409Lowest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest CT: 10%	6.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT	1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below CT	30 minHighest 14% above CT
Work from home	18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Suffield 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	#57 of 149 in CT	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Suffield School District	Shelton School District
High school in town	Suffield High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	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.