Photo: Делян Ковачев · CC BY-SA 3.0Shelton spent less per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar cities
Shelton’s city government spent $151.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,607 per resident.
What stands out about how Shelton is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,268 per resident in 2022: less than 88% of them
Shelton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,268 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 42 U.S. cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,199, and the middle half spent $3,756–$4,820. Shelton spent less than 88% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($5 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
U.S. cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Shelton itself left out).
About $3,607 per resident a year, or $9.88 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 68% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Shelton runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with U.S. cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 13% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Shelton reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $3,268 · 2023: $3,390 · 2024: $3,607.
full-time in March 2025, up from 803 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $5,409 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.20% of the home’s value, vs 1.81% across Connecticut.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Shelton’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Shelton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Shelton →
Who’s in charge in Shelton
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Shelton’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofshelton.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 51 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (41,897).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Shelton School District
Shelton’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Shelton, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $22,356 per pupil, $11,850 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Connecticut districts overall: 58% local, 35% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Shelton voted in 2024
Official results for Shelton’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican55.0%12,985 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat43.6%10,282 votesOthers: 1.4% (324 votes).
Most votes in Shelton: Donald J Trump
Fairfield County: Harris 59.0%, Trump 39.4% · Connecticut: Harris 56.4%, Trump 41.9%
of Shelton’s 31,770 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Connecticut: 66%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Shelton: Matthew M Corey
Fairfield County: Murphy 60.3%, Corey 38.3% · Connecticut: Murphy 58.6%, Corey 39.7%
U.S. House, 2024: 2 districts cover Shelton, so your street decides which race was yours. All 2 districts’ results →
President, 2024: Shelton, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelton | 55.0% | 43.6% | 1.4% | 23,591 |
| Fairfield County | 39.4% | 59.0% | 1.6% | 452,303 |
| Connecticut | 41.9% | 56.4% | 1.7% | 1,759,010 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Shelton.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofshelton.org ↗
- 2Connecticut HouseShelton is split between 2 districts
- 3Connecticut SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Connecticut
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Shelton compares with the towns next door
Shelton spent $3,268 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $4,117 to $6,183. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Shelton’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Shelton’s government
How much does Shelton spend per resident?
About $3,607 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,268 was less than 88% of 42 U.S. cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Shelton?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,409 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.20% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.81% across Connecticut. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofshelton.org.
Who runs Shelton’s government?
See cityofshelton.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Shelton yet.
How did Shelton vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 55.0%, Kamala D Harris 43.6% (23,591 votes, official results). Fairfield County: Harris 59.0%, Trump 39.4%. Connecticut: Harris 56.4%, Trump 41.9%.
How many people work for Shelton?
828 full-time and 219 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.5M (about $78.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Shelton in the state legislature?
Shelton is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Connecticut Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 21 (Jason Perillo). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Shelton’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →