Compare towns
Lisbon vs Monroe vs Preston vs Griswold
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Monroe has the most people working from home (15.4%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
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 | Lisbon | Monroe | Preston | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211Lowest |
18,949Highest |
4,821 |
11,530 |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
| Griswold and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
19.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Monroe and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Preston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Monroe and Preston 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Monroe School District | Preston School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | None in town | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.