What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

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	Thompson	Shelton
People
Population	9,337Lowest	41,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT	44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%	21.4%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Thompson and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	41.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average	$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT
	Shelton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT	$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT	$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT	$5,409Highest 19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%	53.8%±9.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%	6.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%	76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT	1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above CT	30 minLowest 14% above CT
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%	13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Shelton and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#71 of 149 in CT
School district	Thompson School District	Shelton School District
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Shelton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	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.