Compare towns
Derby 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
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Derby | Griswold | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Highest |
11,530 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
| Griswold and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,177±$65Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Derby and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Preston 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Griswold School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.