Compare towns

Griswold vs Killingly vs Dedham 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).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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.

MeasureGriswoldKillinglyDedhamPreston
People
Population
11,530
17,867
25,237Highest
4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.6±1.6
15% 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%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Killingly 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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Dedham 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%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Killingly 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
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$116,648±$27k
44% above U.S.
Dedham 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.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$361,900±$13k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,433±$1k
about the U.S. average
Dedham and Preston 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,749
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Dedham 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #118 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 282 in MA #93 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Dedham Preston School District
High school in town Griswold High School Killingly High School Dedham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
11.1
10.4Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.