Compare towns

Griswold vs Plainfield vs Killingly 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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
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.

MeasureGriswoldPlainfieldKillinglyPreston
People
Population
11,530
15,141
17,867Highest
4,821Lowest
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
39.5±3
4% 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%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Plainfield 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%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
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%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
28.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Killingly 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
18% below CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% 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
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$361,900±$13kHighest
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
Preston and Plainfield 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
$4,209
37% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,749Highest
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
28 min
5% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Highest
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 #131 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Plainfield 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 Plainfield High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
10.3Lowest
11.1
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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.