Compare towns
Griswold vs Dover vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Dover | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530 |
5,930Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainville 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 about the U.S. average |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.