Compare towns
Wallingford vs Union vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Shrewsbury has the most expensive homes ($332k 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 | Union | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286 |
2,663Highest |
1,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.3±5.6 9% above U.S. |
| Wallingford and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wallingford and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$91,250±$23kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$331,900±$52kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Shrewsbury and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,438±$380Highest about the U.S. average |
| Shrewsbury and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355 40% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,350Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shrewsbury and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.