Compare towns
Griswold vs Colebrook vs Preston
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 renters (26.7% rent).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Griswold | Colebrook | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530Highest |
1,494Lowest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% 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 | 18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest 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+ | 19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest 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 | $78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above 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 | $275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% 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 | $1,177±$65Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% 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 | $4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest 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 | 7.6% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest 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 | Griswold School District | Colebrook School District | Preston 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.