Compare towns
Columbia vs Griswold vs Coventry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 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 | Columbia | Griswold | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
11,530 |
12,326Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
45.4±3.8Lowest 10% above CT |
| Columbia and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,232±$330Highest 17% below CT |
| Coventry and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,284Highest 20% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Griswold School District | Coventry School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Griswold High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.