What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

Shelton has the most renters (23.5% rent).

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	Sutton	Shelton
People
Population	9,452Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	44.5±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Shelton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shelton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shelton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$108,185±$11kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$452,600±$13kLowest 36% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,741±$216Highest 23% above U.S.
	Shelton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.	$5,409Lowest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.8%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shelton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Sutton	Shelton School District
High school in town	Sutton High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	14.3Highest
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.