Compare towns
Hadley vs Killingly vs Griswold vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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 | Hadley | Killingly | Griswold | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
17,867Highest |
11,530 |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Griswold School District | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Killingly High School | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.1 |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.