Compare towns

Griswold vs Woonsocket 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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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.

MeasureGriswoldWoonsocketPreston
People
Population
11,530
43,521Highest
4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
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%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
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%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
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
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$116,648±$27kHighest
44% above 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.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$361,900±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% 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.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,749Highest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6Highest
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 #37 of 38 in RI #93 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Preston School District
High school in town Griswold High School Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Lowest
15.2Highest
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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.