Compare towns
Webster vs Shelton vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Shelton has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% 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.
| Measure | Webster | Shelton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
41,889Highest |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$108,185±$11k 34% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$452,600±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,741±$216 23% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,409 73% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelton and Whitman 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #71 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Shelton School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Shelton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| 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.