Compare towns
Griswold vs Bethlehem vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Voluntown has the most homeowners (83.5%).
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 | Griswold | Bethlehem | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530Highest |
3,423 |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Lowest 17% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Griswold and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65Highest 21% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Griswold and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Regional School District 14 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | None in town | 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.