Compare towns

Durham vs Griswold vs Beacon Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).

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.

MeasureDurhamGriswoldBeacon Falls
People
Population
3,347Lowest
11,530Highest
6,147
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+28.6%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
47.9±5.4Lowest
17% above CT
48.1±3.9
17% above CT
48.4±3.8Highest
18% above CT
Beacon Falls and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15%±4.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8
CT: 20.2%
Griswold and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±4.5
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,396±$32kHighest
59% above CT
$78,719±$11kLowest
18% below CT
$101,516±$42k
6% above CT
Durham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$401,700±$32kHighest
9% above CT
$275,900±$42kLowest
25% below CT
$350,300±$34k
5% below CT
Durham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$1k
9% above CT
$1,177±$65Lowest
21% below CT
$1,921±$286Highest
29% above CT
Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,107Highest
7% above CT
$4,628Lowest
30% below CT
$6,534
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±35Highest
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Durham 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%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.3%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
85.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
8 yrs newer than CT
1977
10 yrs newer than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below CT
31 min
17% above CT
33 minHighest
23% above CT
Work from home
20%±6.7
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
Beacon Falls and Durham 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 #88 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT #77 of 149 in CT
School district — Griswold School District Regional School District 16
High school in town — Griswold High School Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Highest
11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.