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Living in
Shelton.
About
Life in Shelton
The job market is solid thanks to major corporate headquarters and offices for companies like Hubbell and Pitney Bowes, which can reduce commute stress for some residents, though your average commute will still run about 29 minutes. Housing costs are significant—median home prices around $452,600 and rents near $1,741 monthly—reflecting the broader Connecticut real estate market and proximity to the New York area. The community skews older and more established, with a median age of 47 and about 43.5% holding college degrees, which shapes the social character: more settled families and professionals than young professionals or students.
Shelton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Foreign-Born
16.8%
Broadband Internet
93.0%
of households
Population Growth
+5.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.8% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Shelton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Shelton, the largest foreign-born group is from India (12.8%), and 8.1% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
21.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.7%
of households
Married Couples
54.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.57
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% above CT average
Rent, home values, and income in Shelton
In Shelton, rent runs 17% above the CT average, and home values are 23% above the CT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,409
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $561,999 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CT
Unemployment in Shelton
Unemployment in Shelton is close to the CT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Shelton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.3 min avg
How Shelton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Shelton, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN)
Small hub738k passengers boarded in 2025
- 48 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 55 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 90% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Shelton runs 90% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
32.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
650.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Shelton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
In Fairfield County, which includes Shelton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $542,500 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Winter Weather | $8,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.1M |
| 2020 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18.5M |
| 2019 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $306,000 |
| 2018 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $609,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Fairfield County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fairfield County, which includes Shelton, is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
108
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Fairfield County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Shelton has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.0"
Annual Snowfall
33.6"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
130
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 18°F | 3.95" |
| Feb | 38°F | 19°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 47°F | 27°F | 4.72" |
| Apr | 58°F | 38°F | 4.72" |
| May | 69°F | 47°F | 4.04" |
| Jun | 77°F | 58°F | 3.93" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 4.30" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.56" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.38" |
| Oct | 63°F | 41°F | 5.00" |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 4.24" |
| Dec | 41°F | 23°F | 4.57" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Shelton
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Shelton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Griffin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Derby
St Vincent's Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8 mi away · Bridgeport
Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System
Psychiatric · 8.2 mi away · Bridgeport
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Shelton
Shelton's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Shelton (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,758 students · in-state tuition $69,900 · 98% graduate · median earnings $118,356 (10 yrs after entry)
Southern Connecticut State University
10.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,295 students · in-state tuition $13,438 · 57% graduate · median earnings $59,695 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,841 students · in-state tuition $49,320 · 63% graduate · median earnings $69,320 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,534 students · in-state tuition $35,760 · 60% graduate · median earnings $56,082 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 991 students · in-state tuition $43,118 · 55% graduate · median earnings $62,459 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Weir Farm National Historical Park, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Shelton
Shelton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Weir Farm National Historical Park (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Weir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awaySagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayFire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
43 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
46 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
52 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
54 mi awayVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
National Historic Site
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in Shelton
Plumb Memorial Library
65 Wooster St., Shelton
Huntington Branch
41 Church St., Shelton
Cities Near Shelton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Shelton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Shelton FAQ
Is Shelton, Connecticut affordable?⌄
Shelton's median rent is $1,741/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $108,185/year. Median home value is $452,600.
Is Shelton, Connecticut safe?⌄
Shelton's violent crime rate was 32 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 651 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Shelton, Connecticut?⌄
Shelton has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Shelton, Connecticut?⌄
The cost of living in Shelton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,741/month and median household income is $108,185/year. The median home value is $452,600. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Shelton, Connecticut?⌄
The average commute in Shelton is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from