Compare towns

Griswold vs Townsend vs Voluntown

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).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Voluntown has the most homeowners (83.5%).

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.

MeasureGriswoldTownsendVoluntown
People
Population
11,530Highest
9,100
2,604Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.1±3.9
24% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
48.3±1.7Highest
24% above U.S.
Voluntown and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Griswold and Voluntown 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%
35.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Voluntown 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
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$101,964±$25k
26% above U.S.
Townsend and Voluntown 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.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$356,100±$16k
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,166±$191Lowest
17% below 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
$4,628Lowest
48% above U.S.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
$4,955
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±24.3Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.9%±5.4Lowest
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 #136 of 282 in MA #53 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District North Middlesex Voluntown School District
High school in town Griswold High School North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Lowest
13.1Highest
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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.