Compare towns

Griswold vs Northbridge vs Stafford

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).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Stafford has the shortest commute (26 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.

MeasureGriswoldNorthbridgeStafford
People
Population
11,530
16,458Highest
11,511Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
43.8±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
46.7±4.8
20% above U.S.
Griswold and Stafford 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%
21.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stafford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stafford 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%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge and Stafford 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
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$93,235±$16k
15% above U.S.
Northbridge and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$448,600±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
$263,800±$22kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,086±$85Lowest
23% below U.S.
Northbridge and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628Lowest
48% above U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$5,131Highest
65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
41.5%±12.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Northbridge 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%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Northbridge and Stafford 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 #226 of 282 in MA #96 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Northbridge Stafford School District
High school in town Griswold High School Northbridge High Stafford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
10.8
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.