Compare towns
Griswold vs Coventry vs Putnam 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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Coventry has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Coventry | Putnam | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,530 |
12,326Highest |
9,292 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Griswold and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Preston 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% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Coventry 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% |
45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628 30% below CT |
$5,284Highest 20% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 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 | 7.6% CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Coventry 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Coventry School District | Putnam School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Coventry High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.9 |
9.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.