Compare towns
Union vs Shelton vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Shelton has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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.
| Measure | Union | Shelton | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
41,889Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
| Colebrook and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,333±$626Lowest 10% below CT |
| Shelton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
30 minLowest 14% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Shelton and Union 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 | — |
| School district | Union School District | Shelton School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shelton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.