City · Connecticut
Shelton, Connecticut
Shelton, city, in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Shelton had 42,880 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 40,869 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 41,889 (±86). GEOID 0968100.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
42,880
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 40,869 · ACS 2020-2024: 41,889 ±86
Median household income
$108,185
±$10,854 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$452,600
±$12,639 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,741
±$216 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Shelton and what county is it in?
Shelton is a city in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 30.6 square miles of land, 1,334 residents per square mile in 2020.
Shelton is in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Shelton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 42,880 people lived in Shelton on July 1, 2025, up 5.0% since 2020, faster than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 40,869 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 41,889 (±86).
| Measure | Shelton | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 41,889 ±86 | 454,969 | +748 |
| Households | 16,096 ±528 | 180,116 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.57 ±0.08 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 16,927 ±558 | 192,551 | no clear change |
Shelton's population since 2000
From 38,101 in 2000 to 42,880 in 2025: up 12.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Shelton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Shelton?
The median resident of Shelton is 44.5 years old; 18.9% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 66.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 12.6%. 16.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Shelton | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 ±1.5 | 41.8 | −2.7 |
| Under 18 years | 18.9% ±1.6 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.4% ±1.5 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Male | 48.0% ±1.5 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.6% ±1.9 pts | 19.9% | +3.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 66.6% ±3.5 pts | 59.8% | −17.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.7% ±2.0 pts | 10.6% | +5.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.7% ±2.1 pts | 3.8% | +4.4 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±1.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±1.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.8% ±2.2 pts | 14.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 22.0% ±2.8 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.7% ±0.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| With a disability | 11.2% ±1.6 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.4% ±1.1 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.9% ±1.2 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.7% ±2.6 pts | 33.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.8% ±2.0 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.0% ±2.0 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±0.9 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Shelton earn?
Half of Shelton's 16,096 households earn less than $108,185 a year (±$10,854), against $86,191 in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. In 2015-2019 it was $119,539 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shelton | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $108,185 ±$10,854 | $86,191 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $138,636 ±$7,459 | $114,324 | – |
| Per capita income | $54,448 ±$2,776 | $46,363 | −$6,102 |
| People below the poverty line | 6.6% ±1.2 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.0% ±2.9 pts | 15.8% | +3.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.3% ±0.9 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.1% ±1.7 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.0% ±2.1 pts | 90.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Shelton?
Owners occupy 76.5% of Shelton's occupied homes and renters 23.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $452,600 by its owner (±$12,639). The median renter pays $1,741 a month including utilities, and 46.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Shelton | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $452,600 ±$12,639 | $317,700 | +$22,719 |
| Median gross rent | $1,741 ±$216 | $1,330 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.3% ±8.5 pts | 44.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,531 ±$127 | $2,229 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.5% ±2.7 pts | 68.6% | −4.1 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.5% ±2.7 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 16,927 ±558 | 192,551 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6% ±3.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.2% ±2.3 pts | 59.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.6% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.9% ±1.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.8% ±1.7 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.7% ±2.3 pts | 9.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Shelton building?
Builders took permits for 209 new housing units in Shelton in 2025 (18 in single-family houses), 4.9 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Shelton work and get to work?
75.4% of Shelton's workers drive alone and 13.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Shelton | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.3% ±2.1 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±1.0 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.4% ±3.2 pts | 74.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.6% ±2.0 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.9% ±2.8 pts | 12.7% | +9.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.3 min ±1.6 | 28.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Shelton?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Shelton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $85,412 (Tract 1101) to $143,269 (Tract 1105).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1103.01Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 6,455 | $104,808 |
| Tract 1106.02Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,394 | $104,497 |
| Tract 1102.02Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,242 | $86,415 |
| Tract 1102.01Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,238 | $100,288 |
| Tract 1105Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,235 | $143,269 |
| Tract 1104Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,045 | $135,655 |
| Tract 1101Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 3,549 | $85,412 |
| Tract 1103.02Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 3,255 | $118,192 |
| Tract 1106.01Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 2,476 | $131,783 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Shelton) · Census block assignment files
How does Shelton compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Shelton is the 962nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 14th-most populous of 30 in Connecticut.
Shelton ranks 153rd of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 14th | 30 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 15th | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 100th | 303 |
| Median household income | 153rd | 294 |
| Per capita income | 174th | 303 |
| Median home value | 90th | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 78th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 101st | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 175th | 297 |
| Median age | 159th | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 174th | 300 |
| Work from home | 189th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 91st | 302 |
Shelton's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Shelton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Shelton?
5 of the 57 figures for Shelton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Shelton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Shelton.