Compare towns
Griswold vs Hanson vs Preston
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 most affordable homes ($276k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Hanson | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530Highest |
10,660 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Hanson 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% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Preston and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Preston 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. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Preston 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Griswold 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Preston 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Whitman-Hanson | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.