Compare towns
Griswold vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Hardwick | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530Highest |
2,684Lowest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston 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. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Preston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628 48% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Quabbin | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.