Compare towns

Griswold vs Needham vs Pomfret

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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureGriswoldNeedhamPomfret
People
Population
11,530
32,459Highest
4,317Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
45.9±3.7
18% above U.S.
Griswold and Pomfret 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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pomfret and Needham 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
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$108,476±$8k
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$409,100±$28k
23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65Lowest
17% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,210±$300
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628Lowest
48% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,903
89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pomfret and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.2%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #118 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #39 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Needham Pomfret School District
High school in town Griswold High School Needham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Lowest
11.9Highest
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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.