A historic downtown, shopping corridors and family farms
Once a farming and manufacturing town, Shelton has grown into a small city with all the classic features of a Connecticut town. Hosting small businesses, established warehouses and waterfront parks, the historic downtown is built along the Housatonic River. “"It’s been redeveloped as a place where people can walk to local restaurants from their apartments," says Paula Bachman, broker/owner at Property Choices Real Estate, who has lived in Shelton for 30 years. Commercial corridors offer convenient shopping, and much of Shelton is made up of peaceful subdivisions. To the west, established family farms offer a steady supply of fresh produce, local parks encourage residents to go hiking or fishing, and the city’s active local government fosters community engagement with regular events like weekly summer concerts.
Shelton's historic downtown is built along the Housatonic River.
The neighborhood of Shelton offers a small town feel with a bustling sense of community.
In downtown Shelton, residents can walk to local restaurants and businesses.
To the west, established farms such as the Jones Family Farm supply produce and host events.
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Downtown condos and Colonial Revivals with large yards
Homebuyers in Shelton can choose between condos and historic multifamily properties on busier streets closer to downtown or quieter residential streets with more spacious yards. Condos in renovated brick buildings from the late 19th century cost between $200,000 and $300,000., while townhouses from the early 2000s cost between $400,000 and $550,000. Smaller single-family homes from the mid- to late 20th century appear in ranch and Colonial Revival designs and are priced between $500,000 and $750,000. Freshly built New Traditional homes on larger lots cost between $900,000 and $1.3 million. Diverse housing choices aren’t the only considerations that draw residents to Shelton. “Taxes are ridiculously low,” Bachman says. "Shelton’s is 17.4 mills; just for comparison, [nearby] Trumbull’s is double that — it’s about 35 mills."
Shelton offers renovated condos in historic brick buildings in the downtown area.
Townhouses from the early 2000s cost between $400,000 and $550,000 in Shelton.
Single-family homes such as this ranch are priced between $500,000 and $750,000 in Shelton.
New Traditional homes on larger lots cost between $900,000 and $1.3 million.
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Parks along the Housatonic for walking or fishing
Locals explore walking trails by the Housatonic River or enjoy a picnic while their kids run around the playground at Riverview Park. Southbank Park is another popular riverfront spot to go fishing, launch a boat or have a picnic by the water. For longer walks, the paved Shelton Lakes Recreation Path weaves for 4 miles through town and offers views of Hope Lake, Silent Waters and Pine Lake. Dog owners can chat with their neighbors as their pets enjoy the Shelton Dog Park, and the tennis courts and ball fields at East Village Park are go-to spots for youth sports. Golfers enjoy the 18-hole course at the Brownson Country Club.
Riverview Park is great for a walk along the Housatonic River in Shelton.
Southbank Park is popular for fishing, kayaking, or enjoying a picnic by the river.
A resident enjoys time with his dog at Shelton Dog Park in Shelton.
Local kids enjoy a basketball game at East Village Park in Shelton.
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Outdoor seating by the river at Pier 131 Kitchen and Bar
The historic brick buildings downtown host popular local restaurants, while commercial corridors have chains and big box stores. Downtown, Pier 131 Kitchen and Bar serves residents oysters and elevated American dishes on an outdoor patio with views of the Housatonic River, and Tacomida offers margaritas and tamales in a trendy, industrial-inspired environment. After dinner, locals can grab drinks and play pool at the Pub on Howe. Farther away from downtown, there are family-owned restaurants like Wellington, an upscale American restaurant serving pasta and filet mignon. Shelton has a seasonal farmers market downtown, but residents can also find farm-sourced meat and produce year-round at the Stone Gardens Farm Market, which Bachman says, “has the absolute best corn that’s grown locally.” Shelton also has widely recognized stores throughout the community, like a Stop and Shop at the Shelton Square Shopping Center, as well as TJ Maxx and Hawley Lane Shoes. “I always say that if they put in a Costco, I’d never leave town,” Bachman jokes.
Pier131 Kitchen and Bar in Shelton serves seafood and has great views of the Housatonic River.
Tacomida serves Mexican fare in a trendy industrial setting in Shelton.
Stone Gardens Farm Market has fresh, local produce in Shelton.
The Shelton Square Shopping Center has a variety of stores, including Hawley Lane Shoes.
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Shelton Day has music, food and pony rides
Local farms in the western portion of Shelton host seasonal outdoor activities. The Jones Family Farm, which has been in business for 150 years, offers blueberry and strawberry picking in the summer and pumpkin picking in the fall. Locals can return to choose a fresh pine for the holidays or visit the Jones Winery year-round to sip a wine flight. The community gathers for Shelton Day every October, a citywide festival with food trucks, live music, a petting zoo and local vendors. Wednesday summer nights are spent on Huntington Green, for a concert series called Music Under the Stars. “Kids love the concerts, of course, because they get to run around and dance,” Bachman says. There are also smaller activities throughout the city, like Nights with Shakespeare at R.D. Scinto. “They hire a performer named Leo Schaff to teach us Shakespeare on Tuesday nights, which is very fun,” Bachman says. "Right now, we’re doing 'Romeo and Juliet.'" The performance includes energetic readings of Shakespeare’s plays, modern translations and audience discussions.
You can pick up a fresh pine for the holidays at the Jones Family Farm in Shelton.
Huntington Green is where the Music Under the Stars concert series is held in the summer.
Orange Farmer's Market and its many food stalls are a short drive away from Shelton.
Enjoy authentic Italian food and fun at St. Jude’s Italian Festival in nearby Monroe.
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Dual enrollment at Shelton High
The Shelton Public School system serves about 4,500 students across eight schools. Both the district and Shelton’s only high school earn B ratings from Niche. Shelton High offers dual-enrollment options for students to begin earning college credits for classes like video game design, entrepreneurship, accounting and more.
Long Hill Elementary serves grades kindergarten through fourth grade in Shelton.
B-rated Perry Hill School serves fifth and sixth grade in Shelton.
Shelton Intermediate School in Shelton serves students in grades 7th and 8th.
Students from Shelton finish their education at Shelton High School, rated B.
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Commuter rail and state routes
Just across the Housatonic River is the Derby/Shelton train station, where commuters can catch the Waterbury line to reach Bridgeport in 20 minutes. The Bridgeport train station has routes operated by the Metro-North Railroad that go southwest to New York City or northeast to Boston. Most of the neighborhood is car-dependent, and residents can merge onto state routes to travel south and link with Interstate 95.
Lower than average crime rates in Shelton
According to the Shelton Police Department, crime rates decreased between 2022 and 2023. FBI statistics show that both violent and property crime rates in Shelton are lower than state and national averages. Shelton experiences all four seasons, with cold winters and warm summers.
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