Compare towns
Wallingford vs Windham vs Suffield vs Shelton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Windham | Suffield | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
23,961 |
15,702Lowest |
41,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Shelton 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$108,185±$11k 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 | $353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84 8% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,424±$141 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 | $5,963 10% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Suffield School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | Windham High School | Suffield High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.