Compare towns
Griswold vs Killingly vs Willimantic 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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Killingly | Willimantic | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,530 |
17,867 |
18,096Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| 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 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Willimantic 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% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 | #136 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 | — | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Killingly High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.