Population 41,889 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shelton
Household size in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.71 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.80 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.76 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.75 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | +0.04 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Households in Shelton average 2.62 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the Bridgeport area as a whole, where it has 2.75 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.9 | 39.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.7 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.8 | 41.5 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.6 | 41.6 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.6, Shelton is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.9, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 10.1% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 10.1% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.5% of households in Shelton, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.4 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Shelton
Renters in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.7% | 29.3% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 31.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 32.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 34.0% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +4.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Shelton is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 37.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 8.3% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.8% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 9.4% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 7.0% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Shelton: 6.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Bridgeport area. Vacancy has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1961 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1962 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1964 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Shelton was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the Bridgeport area overall, where the median home dates to 1967. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the east has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,175 | $1,394 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,287 | $1,488 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,405 | $1,784 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,802 | $2,167 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$627 | +$773 | +$575 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Shelton costs $1,802 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the wider Bridgeport area ($2,167). Rents are up $627 a month from 2006–10, a 53% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Shelton
Bachelor's degrees in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.8% | 43.2% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.3% | 45.5% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.4% | 47.9% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.6% | 50.4% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +7.2 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in Shelton (42.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Still, the share is lower than in the Bridgeport area overall (50.4%). The share with a degree has risen 9.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 87.7% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.8% | 88.8% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 89.8% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 89.7% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +2.0 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Shelton is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Compared with other Connecticut cities, though, Shelton has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 9.6% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 6.5% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 5.8% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in Shelton is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider Bridgeport area (5.8%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Shelton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelton | 2.62 | 45.6 | 7.5% | 23.5% | 6.2% | 1976 | $1,802 | 42.6% | 93.1% | 4.8% |
| Derby | 2.13 | 46.2 | 13.1% | 38.1% | 7.4% | 1964 | $1,487 | 35.1% | 88.7% | 6.1% |
| Ansonia | 2.65 | 40.3 | 14.6% | 41.9% | 9.5% | 1950 | $1,545 | 21.1% | 89.9% | 9.9% |
| Trumbull | 3.03 | 42.7 | 7.1% | 9.9% | 7.5% | 1966 | $2,158 | 59.9% | 95.7% | 4.9% |
| Orange | 2.70 | 46.5 | 6.1% | 10.8% | 4.4% | 1966 | $2,762 | 59.1% | 96.9% | 3.3% |
| Monroe | 3.11 | 42.6 | 7.8% | 4.3% | 8.5% | 1977 | $1,538 | 57.3% | 97.1% | 4.2% |
| Seymour | 2.73 | 43.5 | 12.8% | 25.7% | 4.1% | 1972 | $1,598 | 32.1% | 92.6% | 5.3% |
| Woodbridge | 2.76 | 48.2 | 5.4% | 6.8% | 10.5% | 1967 | $1,803 | 71.1% | 96.4% | 6.5% |
| Milford | 2.38 | 46.2 | 6.7% | 24.4% | 7.7% | 1965 | $2,066 | 50.5% | 96.5% | 4.6% |
| Stratford | 2.60 | 45.5 | 10.2% | 18.4% | 6.0% | 1958 | $1,745 | 37.2% | 91.3% | 7.3% |
| Cedarhurst | 3.08 | 39.1 | 10.5% | 8.3% | 5.0% | 1984 | $1,999 | 56.1% | 99.0% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tupelo, MS · Monroe, GA · Plymouth, MI · Perrysburg, OH · Parkersburg, WV · Paducah, KY · Orange, TX · Oak Harbor, WA · Northbrook, IL · Nicholasville, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Shelton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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