Compare towns

Griswold vs Ware vs Killingly vs Preston

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).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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.

MeasureGriswoldWareKillinglyPreston
People
Population
11,530
10,048
17,867Highest
4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.2±7
19% above 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%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Ware 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%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly 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
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$116,648±$27kHighest
44% above U.S.
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±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$361,900±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
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.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,749Highest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Griswold 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%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware and Killingly 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 #267 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Ware Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Preston School District
High school in town Griswold High School Ware Junior/Senior High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
11.1Lowest
11.1Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.