Shelton -- Best Affordable Suburb in Connecticut -- Where You Can Live Well For Less
If low housing prices, historically low interest rates and the extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit are not enough to get you into the housing market, here's one more thing. Why not choose to live in the Best Affordable Suburb in Connecticut? Where is it? Nah...it CAN'T be in Fairfield County, one of the most expensive counties in the country!! BUT it IS....Can you guess??
According to BusinessWeek magazine, Shelton Connecticut has been selected as the 'Best Affordable Suburb' in Connecticut for 2009. BusinessWeek selected one affordable suburb from each state where residents can find the best quality of life for their money in 2009. Shelton was the winner in Connecticut. Way to go, Shelton! Congratulations! Check other states here:
The criteria for the selected suburbs were limited to towns within 25 miles of the most populated city, (which was Bridgeport CT) with a population of 5,000 to 60,000 people. Other criteria were median family incomes of $51,000 to $120,000 along with lower-than-average crime rates. 
Other factors included livability (shorter than average commutes, low pollution, lots of green space), education (well-educated residents, above average test scores), crime (low personal and property crime), economy (high job growth, low unemployment rate, high family income), and affordability (median household income, cost of expenditures). The overall objective was to find towns that were considered great places to raise a family.
Towns were marked down for consistent bad weather, low racial diversity, high divorce rates, and few children. About 38% of Shelton's residents are married with children.
Shelton has a population of 39,100, median household income of $81,855, a median home price of $360,000 and a 4% unemployment rate (not bad compared to the national 10.2% average). Shelton is also home to over 250 acres of parkland and athletic fields and Brownson Country Club, a golf, swimming, and family club.
BUT, there is a BONUS. Not mentioned in the BusinessWeek report is the fact that Shelton CT has the added distinction of having a low tax rate by comparison to neighboring towns.
This is all great news for anyone looking to move to Shelton or just not quite sure where to make their move. Homes are more affordable than they have been in years and having the distinction of being named the Best Affordable Suburb in Connecticut should just seal the deal.
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