Compare towns
Windham vs Shelton vs Plainfield
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 renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Windham | Shelton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,961 |
41,889Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$5,409Highest 19% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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 | 20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Shelton and Plainfield 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Shelton School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Shelton High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.