Compare towns
Bantam vs Griswold vs Plainville vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bantam has the most people working from home (16%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bantam | Griswold | Plainville | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 810Lowest |
11,530 |
17,551Highest |
2,004 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
| Griswold and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
| Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,177±$65Highest 21% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$767±$529 48% below CT |
| Griswold and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,984 40% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bantam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #118 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Griswold School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | — | Griswold High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.