Compare towns
Griswold vs Killingly vs Ellington 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 most affordable homes ($276k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Killingly | Ellington | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,530 |
17,867Highest |
16,455 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
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%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Killingly 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 CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington 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 18% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Ellington 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 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Ellington 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Killingly High School | Ellington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.



