Compare towns

Griswold vs Preston vs Woonsocket

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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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.

MeasureGriswoldPrestonWoonsocket
People
Population
11,530
4,821Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
46.2±7
19% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below 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%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Preston 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%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Preston 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
$116,648±$27kHighest
44% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Preston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
$361,900±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Preston and Griswold 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.
$4,749Highest
52% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Preston and Griswold 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 #93 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI
School district Griswold School District Preston School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Griswold High School None in town Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Lowest
—
15.2Highest
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.