Compare towns
Griswold vs Hamden vs Plainfield 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).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Hamden | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,530 |
61,045Highest |
15,141 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Preston 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Hamden and Preston 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 |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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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.