Compare towns
Griswold vs Needham vs Windsor Locks 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 renters (26.7% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.
| Measure | Griswold | Needham | Windsor Locks | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,530 |
32,459Highest |
12,579 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% 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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
| Needham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Griswold 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest 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. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Needham | Windsor Locks School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Needham High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.