What is the cost of living in Shelton, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Shelton has an overall cost of living index of 129, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Shelton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Shelton ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Shelton ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Shelton, check out:
Shelton Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Shelton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Shelton is 104.
The Groceries index in Shelton is 106.
The Health index in Shelton is 173.
The Housing index in Shelton is 109.
The Transportation index in Shelton is 109.
The Utilities index in Shelton is 111.
| Living Expense | Shelton | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 129 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 173 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 111 | 100 |
Shelton Cost Of Living Compared To Connecticut Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Connecticut, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Connecticut
- Most Affordable Cities In Connecticut
- Average Rent In Connecticut
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Shelton, CT Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Connecticut, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Shelton is $549,373.
The Median Rent in Shelton is $1,741.
The Median Income in Shelton is $108,185.
The Home Value To Income in Shelton is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Shelton is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Shelton | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $549,373 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,741 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,185 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Shelton, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Shelton Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Shelton | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.47 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $39.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $69.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Shelton Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Shelton | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.03 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.21 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Shelton Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Shelton | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $134.7 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.26 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Shelton Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Shelton | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Shelton Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Shelton | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $296.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Shelton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Shelton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Shelton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bridgeport, CT has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Shelton.
New Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 114, 0.9x Shelton.
West Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Shelton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 149,153 | 111 | 0.9x |
| New Haven, CT | 134,349 | 114 | 0.9x |
| West Haven, CT | 55,351 | 111 | 0.9x |
| East Haven, CT | 27,806 | 112 | 0.9x |
| North Haven, CT | 24,336 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Ansonia, CT | 19,033 | 109 | 0.8x |
| Wallingford Center, CT | 18,208 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Orange, CT | 14,315 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Derby, CT | 12,487 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Bethel, CT | 11,404 | 125 | 1.0x |
