Compare towns

Griswold vs Johnston vs Killingly vs Smithfield

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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).

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.

MeasureGriswoldJohnstonKillinglySmithfield
People
Population
11,530Lowest
29,835Highest
17,867
22,233
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
44.5±2.5
14% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
Griswold and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Griswold 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%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Smithfield 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%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,719±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
Smithfield and Johnston 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.
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,275±$132Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Johnston 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.
$4,614
48% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Smithfield 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%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield and Killingly 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 #32 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI
School district Griswold School District Johnston Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Smithfield
High school in town Griswold High School Johnston Senior High Killingly High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
10.3Lowest
11.1
11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.