Compare towns
Griswold vs Needham vs Putnam
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Needham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530 |
32,459Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| 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. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Griswold 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Needham | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Needham High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.