What are the schools like in Shelton, CT?

Shelton is served primarily by Shelton School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Shelton?

The median household income in Shelton, CT is $112,366 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.

What is the weather like in Shelton, CT?

Shelton has an average high temperature of 36.0°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.6 inches.

Shelton, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Shelton, CT affordable or expensive?

Shelton's cost of living index is 106, where 100 represents the national average. This means Shelton is 6% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $410,400 and the median rent is $1,539 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Shelton, CT?

Shelton has a violent crime rate of 42.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 708.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Shelton, CT a Good Place to Live?

Shelton is a small city of 41,206 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $112,366 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Shelton stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shelton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Shelton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 106.5

Shelton's overall cost of living index is 106.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Shelton costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric	Shelton, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$410,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,539	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$112,366	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Shelton's violent crime rate is 42.2 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

42.2 /100k

Property Crime

708.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Shelton is served primarily by Shelton School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Shelton, CT	National Avg
School District	Shelton School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shelton sees average highs of 36.0°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 51.0 inches of annual precipitation and 33.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Shelton, CT
Average High — January	36.0°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	51.0"
Annual Snowfall	33.6"

Demographics

Metric	Shelton, CT	National Avg
Population	41,206	—
Median Age	44.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.9%	18.9%
Asian	8.8%	6.3%
Under 18	18.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Derby, CT 3 mi Oronoque, CT 3 mi Daniels Farm, CT 4 mi Ansonia, CT 5 mi East Village, CT 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Shelton

Shelton, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

06484

Shelton vs Other Cities

Shelton, CT vs Derby, CT Shelton, CT vs Oronoque, CT Shelton, CT vs Daniels Farm, CT Shelton, CT vs Ansonia, CT Shelton, CT vs East Village, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shelton, CT affordable or expensive?

Shelton's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Shelton roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $410,400 and median rent is $1,539/month.

What is the crime rate in Shelton, CT?

Shelton's violent crime rate is 42.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 708.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Shelton?

Public schools in Shelton are operated by Shelton School District. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 43.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Shelton, CT a good place to live?

Shelton, CT has a population of 41,206, a median household income of $112,366, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Shelton?

Shelton averages 36.0°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.0 inches with about 33.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Shelton?

Shelton, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 06484.

What is the population of Shelton?

The population of Shelton, Connecticut is 41,206 with a median age of 44.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Shelton?

Key numbers for living in Shelton: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $410,400, median household income $112,366, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shelton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.