Bristol vs Shelton
Bristol, Connecticut versus Shelton, Connecticut: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Bristol and Shelton score about the same overall (46 vs 46 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bristol | Shelton |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $82k | $112k |
| Cost of Living | $61k | $61k |
| Home Value | $236k | $410k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.20% | 1.26% |
| Income Tax | 6.90% | 6.90% |
| Sales Tax | 6.35% | 6.35% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.31% | 13.59% |
| Unemployment | 6.6% | 5.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 28°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.0 in | 51.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.6 in | 33.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 185 days | 237 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 64°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 94 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 49.6 | 39.5 |
| Air Quality | 46 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 87.6 |
| Violent Crime | 663/100k | 322/100k |
| Property Crime | 1312/100k | 920/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 61,052 | 41,206 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 44.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.47 | 0.41 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.91 |
| Political Leaning | D+16 | D+16 |
| White (%) | 64.2% | 70.9% |
| Black (%) | 6.8% | 4.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 20.3% | 12.1% |
| Asian (%) | 3.4% | 8.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 25 min | 29 min |
| Walkability | 10.7/20 | 7.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 22 mi | 49 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.1% | 92.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 13.76 | 30.58 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bristol or Shelton more affordable?
- Shelton has the lower cost of living: its index is $61k, compared with Bristol's $61k and Shelton's $61k. Median rent is $1k in Bristol versus $2k in Shelton.
- Is Bristol or Shelton safer?
- Shelton has the lower violent crime rate. Bristol reports 663/100k and Shelton reports 322/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bristol or Shelton?
- The median home value is $236k in Bristol and $410k in Shelton, so homes are more affordable in Bristol.