How much does it cost to rent in Shelton, CT?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Shelton, CT is $2,673. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Shelton cheaper than other Connecticut cities?

Shelton is one of the pricier cities in Connecticut, ranking #11 out of 54 cities tracked at $2,673/mo.

When was Shelton rent data last updated?

Shelton rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Shelton, CT?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Shelton, CT at $2,110 per month, which is 21% below the $2,673 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CT

Shelton

Name: Average Rent Prices in Shelton, CT
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 41,889·11th most expensive in Connecticut·Shelton rents are up 14.7% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,673/mo

Year-over-Year

+14.7%

Month-over-Month

+4.5%

vs US Median

+$711

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Shelton rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Shelton · $2,673

More expensive than 84% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

31/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% above what Shelton's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,673/mo

Expected by trend

$2,438/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Shelton's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,450

1 BR

$1,690

2 BR

$2,110

3 BR

$2,620

4 BR+

$3,040

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,110/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,673 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$32,076/yr

At $2,673/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 14.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+14.7% YoY, +4.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Shelton, CT is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 41.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

41,889

Median income

$108,185

Median age

44.5

Renters

23.5%

Age distribution

18.9%

17.9%

26.3%

15.5%

21.4%

Under 1818.9%

18–3417.9%

35–5426.3%

55–6415.5%

65+21.4%

Gender

48%

52%

Male48%

Female52%

Race & ethnicity

68.3%

12.6%

White68.3%

Black7.1%

Hispanic12.6%

Asian8.8%

Other3.1%

Education (25+)

26%

25.2%

41.7%

No HS diploma7.1%

HS diploma26%

Some college25.2%

Bachelor's+41.7%

Housing tenure

76.5%

23.5%

Owner76.5%

Renter23.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Shelton, CT has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,991 → $2,673

up 34.3%

Income

$103,647 → $108,185

up 4.4%

Population

40,944 → 41,889

up 2.3%

Renter share

20.6% → 23.5%

+2.9 pts

Bachelor's+

41.4% → 41.7%

+0.3 pts

Median age

47.9 → 44.5

-3.4 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Shelton, CT paid around $1,991 a month. That figure now sits near $2,673, up 34.3% from the 2023 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Shelton, CT now reports about $108,185, up from $103,647 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Shelton, CT adding about 945 residents over the five-year window, up 2.3% on net. The renter share has risen from 20.6% to 23.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Shelton, CT reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Shelton

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View Shelton rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Shelton on your salary?

At $2,673/mo, how Shelton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $103,928/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $73,788/yr · Rent = 43.5% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $84,997/yr · Rent = 37.7% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $151,921/yr · Rent = 21.1% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $194,117/yr · Rent = 16.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $69,091/yr · Rent = 46.4% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $62,381/yr · Rent = 51.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $76,890/yr · Rent = 41.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Shelton rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Shelton. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Shelton

About renting in Shelton, CT

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Shelton is $2,673/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,110/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,690/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,620/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($108,185/yr), Shelton ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 14.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Shelton an affordable city for renters?

Shelton is considered moderate for renters. At $2,673/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($108,185/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Shelton slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Shelton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $107,000/year (~$51/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,673/mo in Shelton. The local median household income is $108,185/yr, meaning the typical Shelton household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Shelton?

Rent in Shelton has increased 14.7% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Shelton rent compare to other cities in Connecticut?

Shelton is one of the pricier cities in Connecticut for rent, ranking #11 out of 54 tracked cities at $2,673/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Shelton?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Shelton ($2,673/mo): Seymour ($1,799/mo), Ansonia ($1,863/mo), Derby ($1,971/mo).

What percentage of Shelton residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 23.5% of Shelton households are renters, while 76.5% are owner-occupied. Shelton leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Shelton rent compare to the national average?

Shelton's median rent of $2,673/mo is $711 (36%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Connecticut, it ranks #11 out of 54 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $2,673/mo, rent takes ~30% of Shelton's median household income ($108,185/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Shelton 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3–6.99%

Run the Shelton affordability calculator →

Nearby cities