What stands out worked out from the figures below

Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Griswold	Fairhaven
People
Population	11,530Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±3.9Lowest 24% above U.S.	48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S.
	Fairhaven and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Griswold and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairhaven and Griswold 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	$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Fairhaven and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S.	$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Griswold and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,628Highest 48% above U.S.	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Griswold and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairhaven 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	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Griswold School District	Fairhaven
High school in town	Griswold High School	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.