Compare towns
Griswold vs Putnam vs Townsend
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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Putnam | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530Highest |
9,292 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Griswold School District | Putnam School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Putnam High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.