Compare towns
Wallingford vs Putnam vs Shelton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.
| Measure | Wallingford | Putnam | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
9,292Lowest |
41,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Shelton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Shelton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84 8% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963Highest 10% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Shelton and Wallingford 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Putnam School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | Putnam High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
9.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.