Compare towns
Barkhamsted vs Griswold vs Killingly vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Barkhamsted | Griswold | Killingly | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,678Lowest |
11,530 |
17,867Highest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,544±$9kHighest 29% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $368,000±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$114 22% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,354Highest 4% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Killingly 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 | #63 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Barkhamsted School District | Griswold School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Griswold High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.