Compare towns
Colebrook vs Griswold vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
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 | Colebrook | Griswold | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
11,530Highest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
| Colebrook and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,177±$65Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest 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 | 8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Griswold 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 | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Griswold School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.