Compare towns

Griswold vs Durham 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 affordable homes ($276k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.

MeasureGriswoldDurhamPreston
People
Population
11,530Highest
7,208
4,821Lowest
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
45.5±2.8Lowest
11% 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%±3.7
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
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%±3.5
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Preston 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%
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
Preston and Durham 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
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$116,648±$27k
22% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42kLowest
25% below CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$361,900±$13k
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
$1,154±$448Lowest
22% below CT
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
Preston and Griswold 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
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$4,749
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4Lowest
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%Highest
CT: 10%
3.4%
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
91.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1970Lowest
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above CT
23 min
13% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
Durham 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 #88 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Regional School District 13 Preston School District
High school in town Griswold High School Coginchaug Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
8.9Lowest
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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.